The Super Bowl 58 showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers on February 11 is a meeting between the league's elite, who get global attention for their skills and off-court drama.
There are Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce for the Chiefs and MVP candidates Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey for the 49ers.
These guys are regarded as the focal point of their respective team's offense. If they cruise past to a victory, they are the usual suspects.
They are expected to be impressive in their final game of the 2023 NFL season at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The Chiefs are looking to repeat, while the Niners are looking for revenge for their 2020 Super Bowl defeat against the same opponents. The latter are also trying to win their first Super Bowl title since 1994.
All eyes are on the star players, but coaches should be wary of others who can wreak havoc when left unchecked.
For the Chiefs, there is this one guy who works under the radar but can be deadly.
This guy might be the Niners X-factor in the Super Bowl. He is Deebo Samuel.
Niners X-Factor: Deebo Samuel
The Niners arguably have the most talented squad in the 2023 season.
In offense, Purdy and McCaffrey are hard to keep up with.
The defense is just as prominent. They got Nick Bosa, Fred Waner, Javon Hargrave, and the rest of the defenders working like a well-oiled machine under defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans.
The San Francisco 49ers are more lethal if Deebo Samuel joins the onslaught.
The 28-year-old wide receiver, whose name is off the injury report, is fast and strong. The Niners' ground game gets going with Samuel as a primary target because of his home-run playmaking ability.
He is a good catcher, but he can also run past defenders on his own.
He impressed his teammates in a heated game against rivals Philadelphia Eagles in December last year when he scored a 48-yard touchdown with almost zero chance of scoring.
Deebo Samuel had a 0.1% chance of scoring when he caught the ball on his 48-yard TD.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 3, 2023
🔹 Yards After Catch: 43
🔹 Expected YAC: 2
🔹 YAC Over Expected: +41
Samuel has gained a league-high +909 YACOE since entering the NFL in 2019.#SFvsPHI | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/RicIt4MKOV
He was also great in their first three postseason games, except when he got injured.
In the National Football Conference Championship win against the Detroit Lions, he had eight receptions for 89 yards. He added three rushes for seven yards.
Oddsmakers know the value of a Deebo Samuel.
The news of his return heavily impacted the odds for Total Points, handicap, and over/under of the NFC game.
That is logical. A shoulder injury mid-game forced Samuel to be a spectator in their divisional round game against the Green Bay Packers.
Their offense took a different turn, and the Niners, the favorites, had to run themselves dry to force a come-from-behind 24-21 victory.
San Francisco will need all the minutes they can get from Samuel. They are 7-3 in the postseason with him on the field.
The Niners are 12-2 in the games Samuel was able to finish. In those games, he averaged 31.4 points and 412.4 yards per night.
If Samuel gets his chances, the 49ers might be able to lift the Super Bowl.
Related article: Patrick Mahomes' Dad Arrested: History, Potential Prison Sentence and More
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