Chiefs snap counts, Super Bowl LIV: Expanded roles for several defenders

What can we learn from the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl 54 snap counts?

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV.  While there are no more games left to be played this season, we can still learn something about this team and their future by taking a look at snap counts. Here’s how the snaps came down in the game earned the Chiefs their first Vince Lombardi trophy in 50 years:

*Snap counts via NFL Game Statistics and Information System

Observations

  • The common theme on the offensive side of the ball is that the Chiefs relied on their stars at skill positions. None of their top four targets (Kelce, Hill, Watkins and Williams) played less than 86% of the offensive snaps. In the biggest moments, each of these players shined.

 

  • The defense seemed to take a different approach. They relied on a strong rotation of players at key positions and saw expanded roles for several of those players. Tanoh Kpassagnon, for instance, played in 88% of the defensive snaps. Kendall Fuller was in the game for 55% of the defensive snaps. Even Ben Niemann played in more than 20% of the defensive snaps.

 

  • The entire Chiefs’ starting offensive line played a combined 84 snaps between offense and special teams. The only player on that line scheduled to become a free agent is Stefen Wisniewski. He unseated Andrew Wylie to become the starter at LG and should be in consideration for a new contract.

 

  • FB Anthony Sherman only played in seven offensive snaps, but he led the Chiefs’ offensive players in special teams snaps. He’s scheduled to become a free agent, so it’ll be interesting to see if Kansas City decides to bring him back.

 

  • Rookie RB Darwin Thompson has carved out a nice little role for himself as the change of pace back behind Damien Williams. He combined for 24 snaps between his contributions on offense and special teams.

 

  • DT Chris Jones was on the field for 83% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps. He had two crucial balls batted in the fourth quarter that helped to the comeback victory. He’s scheduled to become a free agent in 2020 and Kansas City will do everything they can to keep him around.

 

  • LB Terrell Suggs has not decided if he’ll retire or not, but he played a pivotal part in winning the Super Bowl with Kansas City. He played in 57% of the defensive snaps and always seemed to be around the football when he was in the game. He’s another player that should be in consideration for a new contract, assuming he wants to continue playing.

 

  • Bashaud Breeland, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Mecole Hardman all dealt with injuries during the game. It didn’t seem to impact their roles much though. Duvernay-Tardif missed no snaps while Breeland missed two snaps. Hardman had a combined 33 snaps on defense and special teams.

 

  • A favorite of the Chiefs Kingdom, DT Mike Pennel, played in just 15 defensive snaps for the Chiefs. Would Kansas City be able to bring him back on an affordable deal knowing that he has a rather limited role?

 

  • Rookie CB Rashad Fenton seems to be climbing his way up the defensive depth chart. He played 34 combined snaps on defense and special teams. In 2020, Fenton could be competing to become a starter for the defense.

 

  • Four non-specialist players only took snaps on special teams. That group included Dorian O’Daniel, Nick Allegretti, Alex Brown, and Jordan Lucas.

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