Super Bowl LVIII will be a star-studded affair, befitting its Las Vegas host.
In one corner you have the Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, who has not just been the NFL’s best player in recent years, but can now be considered as one of the planet’s greatest sportspeople.
Trying to stop Mahomes from winning a third Super Bowl ring will be the San Francisco 49ers, with one of the most dangerous offenses that the NFL has seen in recent years.
But away from the big names, who might be the X factors that settle the big game? Here’s a look at some of the more unheralded names to keep an eye on in Las Vegas…
George Kittle
Overshadowed somewhat on his own team by the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, then also in the tight end position by his opposite number Travis Kelce, but write off George Kittle at your peril.
Although he finished as the season’s leading tight end in terms of yards per catch, Kittle has gone under the radar at times this year, but has the ability to feast if the Kansas City defense is distracted by Brock Purdy’s other shiny toys.
Jawaan Taylor vs Nick Bosa
If the Chiefs are to make it back-to-back Super Bowl titles then Nick Bosa will need to be kept in his box, and the responsibility there will fall to Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor. Should Joe Thuney lose his fitness battle and miss out, the pressure will be cranked up on Taylor, who has developed a bad habit of giving away penalties. Bosa, meanwhile, registered two sacks in last weekend’s win over Detroit, so will fancy his chances of disrupting Mahomes’ flow.
Rashee Rice
Travis Kelce remains Patrick Mahomes’ most trusted target through the air and Isiah Pacheco’s hard running will target a key weakness in the 49ers defense. Rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice could therefore benefit from attention being placed elsewhere on the Chiefs offense. When Rice has 70 or more receiving yards the Chiefs are 5-1, showing the kind of balance in the passing game that is needed to get past a foe like the 49ers.
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