Category: Super Bowl

Candlestick Chronicles: Super Bowl LIV preview bonanza

The 49ers and Chiefs play in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday.

There’s on game left in the 2019 NFL season.

Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee and Kyle Madson dive into a preview of the big game by breaking down how the 49ers win, causes for concern, and which position groups will be key on both sides of the ball. The guys also go into their predictions, and a couple prop bets they like for the game.

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Behind Enemy Lines: Super Bowl preview with the Chiefs Wire

A rundown of the 2020 Super Bowl with the Chiefs Wire.

We had some fun with the Chiefs Wire last week when we went behind enemy lines to get a pulse of a football fan in Kansas City.

That was during the Bye though. With Super Bowl LIV just around the corner, we got back in touch with Charles Goldman of the Chiefs Wire to look ahead to the game and get a prediction before the final game of the season.

Niners Wire: We know all about Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, but who’s another weapon or two 49ers fans may not be aware of going into Sunday?

Charles Goldman: I expect the 49ers, like most teams, to try and takeaway Hill and Kelce. Naturally, that has left Sammy Watkins as the main weapon on offense. That’s what happened in the AFC championship game, but I think a different player is in for some shine during Super Bowl LIV.

Rookie WR Mecole Hardman has been lauded by his teammates as the most mature rookie they’ve seen. He led the NFL in yards per reception (20.7) among players with 25 receptions or more on the season. He’s a weapon with the ball in hands, currently leading all players remaining in the playoffs with an average of 9.7 yards after the catch. When targeting Hardman, Mahomes has a 151.0 passer rating, which is better than any other QB-WR combination this season according to Pro Football Focus.

It might take some prying to get Hill to admit it, but Hardman is just as fast and deadly in the open field. It just feels like it’s Hardman’s time to have a big game in the biggest of games.

NW: Do you think the Chiefs come out and try to defend San Francisco the same way they defended the Titans, and make Jimmy Garoppolo beat them?

CG: I think the Chiefs’ defenders are playing with a whole lot of confidence right now. The perception that they sold out to stop the run against the Titans isn’t exactly accurate. They let their corners play near the line of scrimmage, kept a single-high safety and had seven in the box on most snaps. They occasionally rolled an extra defender into the box when Tennessee went with heavier packages. I think they stick with that same strategy against the 49ers because it gives them a lot of flexibility when it comes to defending the deception that Kyle Shanahan likes to use. I don’t think they’ll let any player or scheme force them out of what they like to do on either side of the ball.

NW: For everything made about the Kansas City offense — their defense has been playing better lately. Who’s keyed their defensive success?

CG: Everybody from the top all the way down. Steve Spagnuolo has done an incredible job getting guys in a better position to make plays. Guys like Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark started to come on after learning the new system around Week 11. The team added free agent DL Mike Pennel and picked up LB Terrell Suggs on waivers and they’ve been big-time rotational pieces. You have some underrated guys like S Daniel Sorensen, CB Bashaud Breeland, DB Rashad Fenton, DB Kendall Fuller and CB Charvarius Ward stepping up and making plays.

One thing that is also important is that the defense is a bit more healthy than they were early on in 2019. Clark dealt with a neck injury early this season and some doctors suggested he should sit out the first six weeks of the season. He decided to play through it. Jones has dealt with a number of injuries this season, but even after his latest calf injury, he’s healthy.

NW: If the 49ers do take away the deep shots — can the Chiefs still rack up 35+ points?

CG: Absolutely. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid love to throw the ball around the field, and the deep ball is a big part of their game. But it’s easy to forget that just two seasons ago that this offense was predicated on ball control, long time-sucking drives and scoring in the red zone.

Against the Titans in the AFC title game, the Chiefs had drives that lasted four, five and seven minutes respectively. Not every play can be an 80-yard score, though, sometimes it does seem that way with Kansas City. If the Chiefs need to slow things down, they’re certainly capable of doing so with efficiency and effectiveness.

NW: Prediction. Go.

I feel like the national media is underrating how motivated the Chiefs are to go get the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The whole team is playing with this massive chip on their shoulder right now. Everybody counted them out at the midseason mark. The offense was too reliant on the passing game and Mahomes. The defense was still bad and couldn’t defend the run. Now that they’re in the big game — they’re favored — but they remember it wasn’t always that way. That type of motivation is dangerous and powerful. The team is out to shift the narrative and bring home a championship for those who have believed in them. Andy Reid, Clark Hunt and the entire Chiefs Kingdom. Chiefs win 35-21.

How to watch and stream 2020 NFL Honors

Here’s how to watch and stream the 2020 NFL Honors show on Fox.

Emmy Award-winning entertainer Steve Harvey will host the ninth annual NFL Honors show on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 8 PM ET/PT on Fox, recognizing the game’s best moments, players and coaches from the 2019-2020 season.

NFL fans who are unable to watch the show on television can stream NFL Honors using FuboTV (try it free).

The list of awards that will be given out on Saturday evening includes the Associated Press Most Valuable Player award, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and the AP Coach of the Year award.

Here is the complete list of awards that will be announced:

AP Most Valuable Player Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
AP Coach of the Year AP Comeback Player of the Year
AP Offensive Player of the Year AP Defensive Player of the Year
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
Clutch Performance Play of the Year

 

 Air & Ground Players of the Year
Salute To Service Award Unstoppable Performance of the Year
Deacon Jones Award Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
Don Shula High School Coach of the Year AP Assistant Coach of the Year
Game Changer Award Anything But Ordinary Player of the Year
Bud Light Celly of the Year Daily Fantasy Player of the Year

The Chiefs will face the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday, Feb. 2.

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From the national anthem to first player to score, here are some Super Bowl LIV prop bets

Various 2020 Super Bowl prop bets to be considered during the big game

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Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers is just days away, so it’s time to look at the games within the game: prop bets.

Arguably no other sporting event is known for the wide range of wagering possibilities than the Super Bowl, where anything from the over/under of the national anthem, to the color of the Gatorade that will eventually be poured on the winning coach can be bet on. Prop bets are a wager on a specific event or individual player or group of players and not directly related to the outcome of the game.

Here are some of the most interesting prop bets for Super Bowl LIV in Miami Gardens, Florida on Sunday, courtesy of BetMGM.

Which player will score the first touchdown in the game?

  • Raheem Mostert: +600
  • George Kittle: +850
  • Matt Breida: +1100
  • Tevin Coleman: +1100
  • Deebo Samuel: +1300
  • Emmanuel Sanders: +1300
  • Kendrick Bourne: +1800
  • San Francisco D/ST: +2100
  • Jeff Wilson Jr.: +2500
  • Kyle Juszczyk: +4200
  • Jimmy Garoppolo: +5000
  • Richie James Jr.: +6000
  • Ross Dwelley: +9500
  • Levine Toilolo: +10000
  • Dante Pettis: +10000
  • Jordan Matthews: +10000
  • Damien Williams: +600
  • Travis Kelce: +750
  • Tyreek Hill: +800
  • Sammy Watkins: +1500
  • Patrick Mahomes: +2100
  • Mecole Hardman: +2200
  • Kansas City D/ST: +2200
  • Demarcus Robinson: +2700
  • Darwin Thompson: +2900
  • LeSean McCoy: +4000
  • Blake Bell: +7000
  • Byron Pringle: +6500
  • Deon Yelder: +7000
  • Anthony Sherman: +10000
  • No touchdown: +10000

What will be the result of the first drive of the game?

  • A score (touchdown, field goal, safety): -125
  • Any other outcome: +105

What will the last score of the game be?

  • A touchdown (including point after touchdown): -167
  • A field goal: +125
  • Any other not listed: +4000

Time of first touchdown

  • Score before 7:01 elapsed: -112
  • Score after 7:01 elapsed: -112

George Kittle and Travis Kelce to record a combined 200+ receiving yards

  • +1200

How many yards with Raheem Mostert record on his longest rush?

  • Over 15.5: -112
  • Under 15.5: -112

Special sports betting line for the big game

Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if either team scores a touchdown during the big game February 2, 2020. Regardless of the outcome, you win with a touchdown! Bet now.

New customer offer; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

How many passing yards will Jimmy Garoppolo record?

  • Over 200.5: -20
  • Under 200.5: +195

How many passing yards will Patrick Mahomes record?

  • Over 350.5: +210
  • Under 350.5: -278

How many tackles and assists will Tyann Mathieu record?

  • Over 5.5: +110
  • Under 5.5: -143

Passing yards handicap head-to-head

  • Patrick Mahomes -58.5: -112
  • Jimmy Garoppolo +58.5: -112

Who will record more receiving yards?

  • Tyreek Hill: -228
  • Deebo Samuel: +180

Total interceptions in the game

  • Over 1.5: +150
  • Under 1.5: -189

Will there be a flea flicker attempted in the game? 

  • No: -420
  • Yes: +260

How many yards will Travis Kelce record on his longest reception?

  • Over 21.5: -112
  • Under 21.5: -112

Patrick Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo to record a combined 500+ passing yards

  • +175

Jersey number of first touchdown scorer

  • Over 26.5: +115
  • Under 26.5: -139

Player position of first touchdown scorer

  • Running back: +120
  • Wide receiver: +210
  • Tight end: +320
  • Quarterback: +1200
  • Any defender: +1400
  • Any other position: +3300

How many punts will Mitch Wishnowsky record?

  • Over 3.5: -143
  • Under 3.5: +110

Player to record a sack

  • Nick Bosa: -134
  • Arik Armstead: -125
  • Dee Ford: -118
  • Frank Clark; -118
  • Chris Jones: +110
  • DeForest Buckner: +120
  • Terrell Suggs: +150

Coin toss winner wins the game

  • Yes: -104
  • No: -104

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Almost half of US sports fans want Super Bowl Monday holiday

Should the Monday following the Super Bowl become a national holiday?

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NASHUA, N.H. (AP) — Nearly half of American sports fans would give up one of their other work holidays in order to have a day off after Super Bowl Sunday, according to a survey commissioned by the daily fantasy sports company DraftKings.

The survey, which was conducted by the polling firm SurveyGizmo, found that more than 40% would rather work Presidents Day, Martin Luther King’s birthday or Columbus Day than the Monday after the NFL championship game.

About one in 10 would even prefer to work Christmas or Thanksgiving, and still more would give up the Fourth of July, New Year’s Day or Memorial Day.

“We were curious as to what extent this was a national holiday in itself,” DraftKings president and co-founder Matt Kalish said. “People like to go out to watch the game. They don’t want to be thinking, ‘I’m going to get home at 12:30 or 1 a.m. I don’t want to be getting up to go to work the next morning.’”

The company contacted by email a nationally representative sample of 1,003 people who identified as sports fans. It found 43% would prefer to give up one of their work holidays in order to take the day after the Super Bowl off; 43% said they would not, and 15% said they aren’t sure.

Special sports betting line for the big game

Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if either team scores a touchdown during the big game February 2, 2020. Regardless of the outcome, you win with a touchdown! Bet now.

New customer offer; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

It also found that 45% are more likely to take Super Bowl Monday off if their preferred team wins the game. About three in 10 agreed with the statement, “I have called in sick on short notice after the Super Bowl in the past.”

The company also asked fans their feelings about sports betting and found that 82% of those self-identified sports fans want to be able to bet legally on the Super Bowl. More than three-quarters — 78% — said they are more likely to watch the whole Super Bowl if they have money riding on it.

“That’s not surprising,” Kalish said. “People like having something on the line when they’re watching major events like the Super Bowl.”

Although DraftKings started by allowing fans to win money playing fantasy sports, it has entered the sports betting market since the Supreme Court overturned a national ban on it in 2018. Gambling on sports is now offered in 14 states — not including Massachusetts, DraftKings’ corporate home.

Even so, the company already gives its staff the day off on the Monday after the Super Bowl.

“It’s almost a reward for our employees,” Kalish said. “We’ve always had a pretty lenient policy. We found like half the company was taking the Monday off after the Super Bowl anyway.”

Also see:

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

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49ers worked out punter to simulate Chiefs’ Dustin Colquitt

The 49ers want to make sure they take advantage of punts in the Super Bowl, so they worked out a left-footed punter.

The 49ers aren’t taking any chances in the Super Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a left-footed punter, Dustin Colquitt, which makes things a little awkward for the 49ers’ punt returners, who typically see the ball off a right-footed punter.

It doesn’t seem like a huge deal, but the different spin could make the ball more difficult to judge and catch. A muffed punt could be a game-changing swing, so the 49ers made sure their punt returners were ready by working out left-footed punter Brad Wing according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

Richie James Jr., the 49ers’ primary return man, has done a nice job this year, but had a little trouble at times with his decision-making. It’s a huge win for the 49ers on Sunday if they force an explosive Kansas City offense to punt, so not turning it over on this kicks will be huge. Working out Wing is a good way to ensure James is ready for a new look from the punter.

49ers fully healthy for Super Bowl LIV

The 49ers all practiced in full Friday, and they’re healthy going into the Super Bowl.

The 49ers didn’t have any players on their injury report for Super Bowl Sunday, meaning their entire 53-man roster will be available.

There was a small question throughout the week with running back Tevin Coleman, safety Jaquiski Tartt and linebacker Kwon Alexander all limited during Bye week workouts and Wednesday and Thursday of Super Bowl week.

However, all three players were full participants in Friday’s practice and won’t have an injury designation in the Super Bowl.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Coleman, who dislocated his shoulder in the NFC championship game, is feeling good about his injury.

“He’s worked his tail off to get healthy,” Shanahan said via a pool report. “He’s good to go. He’s confident.”

It’ll be all hands on deck Sunday for San Francisco against a Chiefs team that’s playing well on both sides of the ball. Having all three of Alexander, Tartt and Coleman healthy will make life for the 49ers a little bit easier.

On this date: Broncos defeated Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII

On this date in NFL history, the Broncos defeated the Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII.

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On Jan. 31, 1999, the Denver Broncos (17-2) defeated the Atlanta Falcons (16-3) 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Broncos were considered 7.5-point favorites going into the game and ended up beating the Falcons by 15 points.

Denver quarterback John Elway was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after completing 18-of-29 passes for 336 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Elway also rushed for a score.

Elway retired during the 2000 offseason after helping the Broncos win back-to-back Super Bowls. One year before defeating Atlanta, Elway helped Denver defeat the Green Bay Packers 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII.

Against the Falcons, running back Terrell Davis rushed 25 times for 102 yards and wide receiver Rod Smith caught five passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. Davis and Smith now rank first on the team’s all-time rushing list and receiving list, respectively.

Seventeen years after winning Super Bowl XXXIII, the Broncos returned to the NFL’s championship game and defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50. Von Miller took home MVP honors for that contest.

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