If you remove Brock Purdy’s “Mr. Irrelevant” story and ignore the “everyone doubted the Kansas City Chiefs” narrative, Super Bowl 58 could be viewed as a fairly standard championship game. Many predicted this matchup before the season began, and despite each having their own difficult stretches, no one is really scratching their heads as to how this came to be.
In most cases, supreme talent and excellent coaching will win out. Despite the Chiefs’ wide receiver deficiencies, quarterback Patrick Mahomes led an offense that ranked among the top ten in total yards per game. The 49ers load the field with playmakers, forcing defensive coordinators to choose their poison.
Despite all of this star power, there is one athlete who is being overlooked. This changes on Sunday. Deebo Samuel is preparing to win big in Las Vegas.
With future Hall of Famers on both teams, we look at how this dual-threat offensive weapon will lead the 49ers to their first championship in 29 years and then immortalize himself as Super Bowl 58 MVP.
The 49ers receiver will stand out among his teammates.
Calling Samuel underrated seems silly given that he is a former First-Team All-Pro selection, but injuries and sharing the field with other difference-makers have understandably pushed him out of the national spotlight. The biggest event in American sports is an excellent opportunity to remind everyone that he is not a background player.
Samuel is looking to build on his strong performance in the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions (eight catches for 89 yards) and become the ninth wide receiver to win Super Bowl MVP honors. Ironically, the reason he could win the award is that he is more than just a receiver.
While versatility is critical for a schematic wizard like 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, it can leave a player feeling more undefined in the eyes of the public. The receiver/rusher keeps defenses guessing, but he is not the first name a neutral fan would think of when listing San Francisco’s most dangerous offensive players.
Samuel is outperformed as a pass-catcher by Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle, and as a running back by Christian McCaffrey. With ultimate underdog Brock Purdy standing under center, his reputation may suffer slightly. Given all of this, the 28-year-old will face a difficult task in hoisting the Pete Rozelle Trophy at Allegiant Stadium.
That means Deebo Samuel should be even more motivated than before to rise to the occasion and help the Niners avenge their 2020 loss to the Chiefs. The Super Bowl 58 game script should also work in his favor.
Leave a Reply