The Chiefs’ largest performs — a shock blitz by Spagnuolo and “corn dog” redux — secured a 25-22 victory over the 49ers and cemented Kansas City’s trendy dynasty.
Here’s how the performs broke down.
Play 1: Spagnuolo’s shock blitz
Coming out of the two-minute warning, with the sport tied at 16, the 49ers confronted third and 5 from the Chiefs’ 35-yard line. This was it. If the 49ers obtained a primary down, they had been more likely to win. They may run the clock — the Chiefs solely had two timeouts — and kick a discipline aim.
It was one of many largest play calls of Coach Kyle Shanahan’s profession. Everyone knew he was going to move.
On the published, CBS analyst Tony Romo predicted Spagnuolo would blitz. Spagnuolo’s philosophy is famously aggressive and blitz-heavy. He was the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants in 2007, when that strategy helped him knock off the undefeated New England Patriots within the Super Bowl.
After the sport, Chiefs nook L’Jarius Sneed advised reporters the Chiefs had blitzed rather a lot to decelerate the 49ers’ elite run sport. They needed quarterback Brock Purdy to throw the ball.
San Francisco got here out in what’s generally known as “11” personnel, with one working again, one tight finish and three receivers. It was a shock; the 49ers normally favor heavier personnel groupings and use “11” at one of many league’s lowest charges. But in traditional 49ers style, a number of gamers lined up in uncommon spots — together with tight finish George Kittle within the backfield.
Kansas City countered with gentle personnel as effectively, a subpackage referred to as “quarter” with two linemen, two linebackers and 7 defensive backs. The Chiefs had used “quarter” on simply 1.1 % of their snaps this season, based on TruMedia.
For a lot of the sport, Spagnuolo had blitzed Purdy. But the presnap image this time — together with simply 4 defenders on the road of scrimmage within the sort out field — prompt he wasn’t going to blitz. He was going to drop seven and play protection.
On the snap, all the pieces modified. Spagnuolo blitzed each slot corners, pitting six defenders in opposition to 5 linemen. It was as much as Kittle, a decent finish taking part in working again, to select up the final defender. But for some motive — perhaps it was how the play was coached, perhaps he didn’t see the opening open — Kittle went proper, not left, and all-pro cornerback Trent McDuffie flew in unblocked.
Purdy began to throw to receiver Jauan Jennings, who was having the sport of his life and had simply received his matchup on a slant route. But McDuffie reached Purdy in 1.5 seconds and batted the ball down.
“It never looked like pressure the whole time,” Romo yelled on CBS. “At no point would you ever think it is [a blitz]. That’s why you have to understand the DNA of [Spagnuolo]. I just know, however they look, Spagnuolo’s not going down without bringing it.”
The cease pressured the 49ers to accept a discipline aim, and the Chiefs had time to drive for the kick that pressured extra time. In extra time, San Francisco confronted third and 4 on Kansas City’s 9-yard line, and Spagnuolo used a extra conventional blitz to rush Purdy and drive the 49ers to accept a discipline aim.
Play 2: ‘Corn dog’ redux
After San Francisco’s discipline aim in extra time, the Chiefs trailed, 22-19. They drove 72 yards down the sector and confronted first and aim from the 49ers’ 3-yard line. The sport clock was ticking down from 12 seconds, however the Chiefs didn’t need to name a timeout; if time had expired, there would have been a second extra time interval.
Chiefs landing
Overtime – 00:03
Chiefs landing
Overtime – 00:03
Chiefs landing
Overtime – 00:03
Kansas City got here out in what’s generally known as “12” personnel, with one working again, two tight ends and two receivers. They used a decent formation with the tight ends (Travis Kelce and Noah Gray) and one receiver (Mecole Hardman) on the best facet.
The 49ers’ defenders in all probability anticipated a run due to the look and the Chiefs’ tendencies; on first downs contained in the 5-yard line this season, Kansas City referred to as runs 71 % of the time, based on TruMedia.
But then Hardman began to run a jet movement throughout the formation.
Last season, the Chiefs typically used speedy receiver Kadarius Toney on jet motions. Defenses countered them with “rock-and-roll” protection bumps, which means the cornerback would rock as much as security, and a security would roll right down to the road of scrimmage to select up the jet. The tactic allowed defenses to maintain good leverage on the participant in movement.
In the final Super Bowl, Reid countered rock-and-rolls with “return” motions, during which a receiver fakes a jet then cuts again outdoors. The Chiefs used these motions to attain two large open touchdowns. The one to Toney was referred to as “corn dog.”
This season, Toney was unreliable, so he was a wholesome scratch for the Super Bowl. Hardman — who began his profession with the Chiefs, signed with the New York Jets in March and was traded again to Kansas City in October — changed him for this little bit of déjà vu. Instead of Toney and Philadelphia nook Darius Slay, it was Hardman and San Francisco nook Charvarius Ward. Just as Hardman obtained stage with Kelce, simply as Ward shifted his eyes from his receiver into the backfield, Mahomes referred to as for the snap.
As the ball flew again, Hardman planted his left leg and, primarily hiding behind Kelce, burst again outdoors in a return movement. Ward, seemingly fooled by the movement, switched from defending Hardman to Kelce, leaving Hardman large open. Mahomes tossed Hardman the ball to win the Super Bowl.
“The [play] call is different, but it’s like the same exact motion as ‘corn dog,’ ” Mahomes advised CBS. “We brought it back at the right time. Coach Reid — he’s a legend, man. He’ll do that.”
