Super Bowl Recap: 49ers Defense vs the Chiefs Offense

Many people think you have to come up with crazy schemes to defeat the Chiefs. The 49ers did a very good job in Super Bowl 54 for the first 3 1/2 quarters

 In the Super Bowl, the 49ers played the Chiefs very tough and did an excellent job in their game plan. They dominated the first 3 1/2 quarters of the  game and were up 20-10 with 8 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. The Chiefs made a late run and in the end, Mahomes pulled some magic and gave them the narrow victory. Mahomes finished 26/42 for 286 yards with 2 interceptions and was sacked 4 times.

The game plan was very simple but effective and really was comprised of 3 components. They played certain coverages to 2x2, 3x1 and they had a very solid 3rd down package. 

1. The 49ers played primarily zone on early downs vs 2x2 sets. They really didn't deviate from that too much. They were consistent in playing solid zone with some match up principles and some cover 3 variations but didn't go away from that too often. This helped with some Chiefs motion concepts condensed sets and was mostly effective 

The only other thing they did was go  man free with 5 man pressures on 3 occasions. This was a nice change up but they didn't do it too much.

2. The 49ers played mostly combo coverage vs 3x1. They locked on the weakside with the cb. Depending on where the rb was aligned they either went zone with the weak lb or had him cover the rb. They played zone to the 3x1 side. 

3. On 3rd down and 3-9 they were all in some type of man free concept. You saw 2 man lurk and some traditional man free with 5 man pressures. On 3rd and 10 plus they played zone.

Here are some examples:

You can see the 1st 3x1 variation with 3x1 and the back strong:

Here's an example of 3x1 with the back to the weak side. mike will carry #3 vertical and the drop safety will play off #2. The 49ers play match principles so its tough to figure out exactly what they are doing.

Here's another variation with 1/4, 1/4 half when the Chiefs go empty but still locking the single side.

Safety does a nice job reading #3

On 3rd down they either brought 5 man pressure and played man free or played 2 man robber(lurk) concepts with one of the safeties.

Here is a 3rd and 3 where they bring 5 man pressure and play man free. Mahomes reads man to man and works to the TE/RB side which is the primary read vs man coverage. 49ers play it well and get off the field

The last concept they played was 2 man lurk which is a variation of man free. They got a big pick off it with 12 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. Safety does a great job breaking hard and forcing the bad throw. Nice Job                    

The turning point of the game was a 3rd and 15 and the 49ers play their cover 3 with the free safety playing the crosser weak. The Chiefs protect it well and Hill runs a double move vs cover 3. The cb has to hang on #1 who is running a skinny post curl concept. No chance for the free safety on this. I never saw a qb make more plays on 3rd and long than Mahomes! 

Hill gets open for the 44 yard gain. CB jumps the deep post by #1 and the free safety has no shot. He had time to throw this. This route swung the momentum but you get an idea of how the 49ers played the Chiefs.