Sometimes, in order to win a big game like the Super Bowl, a team has to do things a little differently than they have the rest of the season. And it sounds like the Kansas City Chiefs definitely took that approach against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.
Under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the Chiefs have not played a whole lot of man-to-man defense over the past several years, playing primarily zone. But as Robert Mayes of The Athletic pointed out this week, the Chiefs actually made a pretty significant change in strategy for the Super Bowl, playing man-to-man the majority of the game.
“Per @TruMediaSports’ numbers, the Chiefs played man on 60.6% of dropbacks in the Super Bowl. That’s the highest rate by a Chiefs team in any game of the Spags era. Previous high was 52.5% against the Broncos in 2020. They’ve only had 4 games over 50%. [Heck] of a changeup,” Mays said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
Obviously, this is a pretty shocking change for the team, and it led to a lot of reactions on social media.
As i said. Nobody in the world was worried about the 49ers "weapons" https://t.co/XgAN7FiRGC
— Uncle Glenny (@Maratea20G) February 15, 2024
The biggest endictment of Brock Purdy is that in the biggest game, the defense dared him to beat them.
Purdy doesnt call the protections, and has struggled mightily under blitz pressure in his career.
Typically, thats where great QBs excel. https://t.co/zX8NVYjDOu
— Anthony Amico (@amicsta) February 15, 2024
This is made more incredible by the set of pass-catchers San Francisco has, too. Spags trusted his guys to go out and win against San Fran’s guys and they did. Hell of a defensive performance on so many levels. https://t.co/F2mR4wZP0D
— Sam Hoppen (@SamHoppen) February 15, 2024
IMO this is a concern for the 49ers going forward. Ayuik can obviously beat man coverage, but I really feel they need a true WR to play WR #2. I love Deebo, but they are going to need another WR who can beat man.
— Dave Baker (@golfer07840) February 14, 2024
Why didn't SF adjust to it? Or if they did, why didn't it work?
— {•¥•} (@___1_618___) February 15, 2024
The change clearly worked, and the Chiefs won the Super Bowl as a result.
