2. Jaylen Watson/Joshua Williams, Cornerback
L’Jarius Sneed, fortunately, has been cleared from concussion protocol in time for the Big Game and he will play an important role. Trent McDuffie will also be invaluable on Sunday but Kansas City is going to require one or both Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams to step up when it comes to stopping the Eagles’ passing game.
After Sneed left early in the game two weeks ago, the three rookies played exceptionally in a winning performance and they will need to do that again. Whoever serves as the third cornerback on the depth chart, likely Jaylen Watson, needs to play well throughout the game. In the Super Bowl, the margins are razor thin, and a secondary plays as well as its weakest link. If three defenders in coverage play their assignment perfectly but one blows theirs, and it leads to a big gain, it’s still a bad play despite the majority of the unit having perfect execution. If the secondary can play close to lights out on Sunday, that will allow Steve Spagnuolo to put more guys in the box to help limit the Philadelphia running game.