Super Bowl LVIII has the potential to be a battle for the ages. In a repeat of the 2020 showpiece clash, the San Francisco 49ers and their high-powered offense will take on the Kansas City Chiefs, led by the future first-ballot Hall of Famer Patrick Mahomes.
We’ve already looked at how the two offenses match up, but how do the two teams compare on the other side of the ball? And will the old adage of ‘offenses win games, defenses win championships’ prove to be correct this time out?
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the two defenses.
Defensive tackle
49ers: Arik Armstead, Javon Hargrave
Chiefs: Neil Farrell, Chris Jones
Two very well-matched position groups here. In Chris Jones, the Chiefs probably have the standout player here, but he was not at his best in the win over the Ravens, registering only one QB hit. For all of Armstead and Hargrave’s qualities, stopping the run up the middle has been an issue for the Niners, with the Lions taking full advantage in last weekend’s first half, so we’ll give the Chiefs a slight edge here.
Edge: Chiefs
Defensive end
49ers: Nick Bosa, Chase Young
Chiefs: Mike Danna, George Karlaftis
With two sacks against the Lions, Bosa showed flashes of his NFL Defensive Player of the Year form from last year. The former first-round draft pick has the ability to contain Mahomes, which would massively boost the odds of the Niners lifting the Lombardi.
Edge: 49ers
Linebackers
49ers: Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Oren Burks
Chiefs: Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Cole Christiansen
Fred Warner is one of the best defensive players in the NFL, with his physical abilities matching up his adroit footballing brain. Hard-hitting Dre Greenlaw can set the tone of any match and with Willie Gay sidelined for the Chiefs, it’s another unit that the 49ers look stronger in.
Edge: 49ers
Cornerback
49ers: Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Isaiah Oliver, Ambry Thomas
Chiefs: L'Jarius Sneed, Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson
L’Jarius Sneed put in a brilliant performance against the Ravens to stop Lamar Jackson, with Trent McDuffie also playing some of the best football of his career during the current playoff run.
Edge: Chiefs
Safety
49ers: Ji'Ayir Brown, Tashaun Gipson Sr
Chiefs: Mike Edwards, Justin Reid
Another close one, with Chiefs duo of Edwards and Reid bending but not breaking in the face of top-class opposition over the past two weeks. Brown and Gipson have also been able to step up when it matters in the Niners' two playoff comeback wins.
Edge: 49ers
Special teams
49ers: Jake Moody, Mitch Wishnowsky
Chiefs: Harrison Butker, Tommy Townsend
A reliable kicker is a godsend in the playoffs and the jury is still out on rookie 49ers kicker Jake Moody, who missed 48-yarders against both the Packers and the Lions. Butker missed only three field goals in the regular season and is perfect so far in the play-offs.
Edge: Chiefs
Overall
Whereas the 49ers offense has the edge over the Chiefs unit, this one is a lot closer to call, with several units matching up very well. The Niners have the stronger individuals, with Nick Bosa and Fred Warner the standouts and they will need to be on top of their game if they are to stop Mahomes.
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