Duel of opposites in Super Bowl LIV

The San Francisco 49ers have not won the most important trophy in American football for 25 years, the Kansas City Chiefs have not won it for 50 - and yet both are among the most traditional clubs in the National Football League (NFL).

The Chiefs around their star quarterback Patrick Mahomes are considered slight favorites before the 54th edition of the showdown. The 49ers have perhaps the strongest offense in the league, but they have the strongest defense. It will be a duel of opposites that awaits the fans at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. This also applies to the coaches: veteran Andy Reid (61) at Kansas City and 40-year-old Kyle Shanahan at San Francisco.

The son of coaching legend Mike Shanahan has managed to turn things around. In his first two seasons as head coach, San Francisco had only won a total of ten games. In 2019, the traditional team regained the throne in the National Football Conference (NFC). “The most important thing was to bring together people who are committed to football,” Shanahan said.

With them, the 49ers are back in the Super Bowl for the first time in 7 years. With their 6th triumph they would draw level with the record winners Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots. For the Californians' first two titles in 1 and 1982, a native Austrian was their kicker. Emigrant son Raimund “Ray” Wersching from Mondsee still holds a shared Super Bowl record with 1985 field goals made in one game (4).

The Chiefs' great triumphs lie much further back. After a loss in the first edition in 1, the franchise won its only Super Bowl in 1967. Since then, the Chiefs have not been represented in the final. With Mahomes the big hit should succeed. His main pass receivers are tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Tyreek Hill. The “Cheetah,” Hill’s nickname, is considered the fastest player in the league.

“I have a great team,” emphasized Coach Reid. The man with the distinctive mustache has long been a major player in the industry. With 221 wins (including play-offs), the 61-year-old is in sixth place on the NFL leaderboard. No other head coach has won more games without winning a Super Bowl. In 6, Reid triumphed as an assistant coach with the Green Bay Packers. As a boss, he was denied the honor in 1997 with the Philadelphia Eagles against New England.

Since signing Reid in 2013, Kansas City has finished every season with a positive winning record and most recently reached the knockout stages five times in a row. In the two playoff games this season against Houston (51:31) and Tennessee (35:24), the Chiefs had to chase down double-digit deficits. “We might have to start a little quicker,” Reid said before the showdown with San Francisco.

This is especially true because the 49ers' running game is feared. Running back Raheem Mostert scored 37 touchdowns alone in the conference final against Green Bay (20:4). He celebrates this with a cheer modeled on surfing. The passionate surfer is no longer allowed to pursue his passion for the time being - one of the conditions of his new contract, explained the 27-year-old.

49ers offensive assistant Katie Sowers is the first woman to be on the coaching staff of a Super Bowl participant. San Francisco's stars can be found primarily in defense. Cornerback Richard Sherman won the championship with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014. In addition, rookie Nick Bosa is one of the most feared quarterback hunters in the league. It will also be up to him to stop Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Duel of opposites in Super Bowl LIV

In Super Bowl LIV, a long dry spell ends on Sunday (0.30:XNUMX a.m. Monday night CET).

Suggestions

Comments (0)