49ers' Saleh: Chiefs built roster 'from the Olympic relay team'
The Kansas City Chiefs' offense has been one of the most dangerous units in the NFL since Patrick Mahomes took over at quarterback, and the San Francisco 49ers are well aware of that ahead of Super Bowl LIV.
"Very explosive," 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said of the Chiefs' offense, according to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports. "Mahomes has gotten better. They're at every position - it almost looks like they got their roster from the Olympic relay team and threw them all on the field. Not to say that they can't run routes or can't catch either, because they can do that.
"They are a special group and you can see why they are there."
The Chiefs' dynamic attack is highlighted by wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who caught two touchdown passes against the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game. The speedy wideout ran track during high school and his early college career and won a gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the World Junior Championships in 2012. He also clinched bronze in the 200m dash.
After finishing 2018 with the highest-scoring offense in the league, the Chiefs averaged 28.2 points per game in 2019 - good for eighth in the NFL - despite losing Mahomes for two tilts due to a knee injury.
Kansas City has been even better in the playoffs, leading all teams in points per game (43) and yards per play (6.9) over two postseason contests.
"They are the fastest team, by far," Saleh said. "To try to compare it to another team would not do them justice, to be honest with you. But anytime you have speed like that it will naturally stress the defense."
The 49ers' defense, meanwhile, is formidable in its own right and could have a better chance against the Chiefs than most other stop units. San Francisco has maintained its high defensive standards from the regular season, leading all playoff teams in points (15) and total yards (252.5) allowed per game.
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