49ers: Positional analysis of the Super Bowl LIV matchup with the Chiefs
By Sean Basile
3. Comparing front-sevens
Defensive line/pass rush 100 percent goes to the 49ers. There isn’t even a question about this.
48 sacks this year behind a defensive line stacked with nothing but first-rounders while the Chiefs took a step back this year after losing Dee Ford (now with the 49ers, ironically) as they registered 45 sacks after their league-leading 52 a year ago.
Give me Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, Solomon Thomas, DeForest Buckner, and Arik Armstead over Frank Clark and Chris Jones (who’s banged up) any day of the week.
Run-stopping shouldn’t be too much of an argument either as San Francisco ranked higher than Kansas City in rushing yards allowed (1,802) and rushing yards per game allowed (112.6) as the Chiefs came in with 2,051 total rushing yards and 128.2 rushing yards per game allowed.
Neither were particularly great this year, but give me Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and a returning Kwon Alexander for San Francisco over Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson for Kansas City in the linebacking core.