“49ers Defense Faces Run Game Challenge Ahead of Super Bowl Clash with Chiefs”
Led by coordinator Steve Wilks, the San Francisco 49ers had one of the best defenses in the league in 2023. The club ranked eighth in the league in fewest yards allowed per game. Only the Bears and Lions gave up fewer yards on the ground. This season, Kyle Shanahan’s team allowed only 298 points, the third fewest in the NFL.
However, the NFC champions have not been tolerant of this side of the football lately. The biggest problem seems to be the aforementioned run defense.Wilks’ defensive unit limited 10 of its first 13 opponents to less than 100 yards, but it’s worth noting that Shanahan’s team had early and big leads in many contests.In Week 15 at Arizona, the Niners took a wild 45-29 victory. The team led 14-7 in the 15-minute game and had a 35-16 lead in the fourth quarter.
However, Jonathan Gannon’s club was bogged down in the ground game, finishing the afternoon with 234 yards on 30 attempts. After season losses to the Ravens (102) and Rams (109), the 49ers again gave up more than 100 yards rushing. Wilks’ defensive unit limited 10 of its first 13 opponents to less than 100 yards, but that’s worth it. notes that in many of those contests, Shanahan’s team had early and large leads.In Week 15 at Arizona, the Niners took a wild 45-29 victory. The team led 14-7 in the 15-minute game and had a 35-16 lead in the fourth quarter.
However, Jonathan Gannon’s club was bogged down in the ground game, finishing the afternoon with 234 yards on 30 attempts. After season losses to the Ravens (102) and Rams (109), the 49ers again gave up more than 100 yards rushing. Now consider what happened in the playoffs, even with Brock Purdy and company chasing a three-pointer. Over the Packers (24-21) and Lions (34-31) – the latter from a 17-point deficit. Green Bay’s Aaron Jones finished with 108 of the team’s 136 yards. Eight days later, Detroit had 182 yards on the ground led by David Montgomery (93).
Those recent issues could come back to haunt San Francisco on Super Sunday against a Kansas City Chiefs team that ranked 19th in the NFL in rushing (104.9 yards per game) during the regular season but blew its playoff lead. Andy Reid’s club averaged 127.3 yards per game in three postseason games and outgained the Dolphins and Bills by more than 140 yards.You remember what the Chiefs did to the Eagles in the second half of Super Bowl LVII.
The team went with a ground attack against a Philadelphia defense that has been mediocre against the run this year. All told, 119 of the club’s 158 yards came in the final two quarters. That included Patrick Mahomes’ huge 26-yarder late in the game that helped set up Kansas City’s game-winning field goal.If the Niners are going to end Kansas City’s championship run, they better do something to stop it on Sunday afternoon..
