SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 14: Charles Omenihu #94 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts during an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on January 14, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl on Sunday, but the team will be without defensive end Charles Omenihu after he tore his ACL in the win against the Baltimore Ravens. Omenihu was a key piece in the Chiefs’ defense this season as he had seven sacks in 11 games played, as well as a strip sack against Lamar Jackson on Sunday before his injury.
Omenihu played the previous two seasons with the 49ers, but only collected 4.5 sacks in 26 games played. He was suspended for the first six games of the season, but since joining the Chiefs, he has become an effective pass-rusher.
Kansas City has been one of the league’s best defensive units, all year as the team allowed the second-fewest points against them during the regular season. They also recorded the second-most sacks throughout the season at 57, an average of 3.35 per game.
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The Chiefs will have to fill the hole created by Omenihu’s absence, especially as their opponent, the 49ers, looked very strong on offense all season. Aside from star running back Christian McCaffrey, who scored 21 total touchdowns in the regular season, quarterback Brock Purdy was fifth in passing with 4820 yards and 31 touchdowns. San Fransisco was the second-ranked overall offense in 2023 and third in points per game at 28.9. The team’s offensive line, led by All-Pro tackle Trent Williams, only allowed Purdy to be sacked 26 times throughout the regular season, the third least for a starting quarterback.
The Chiefs beat the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship, which had much to do with the help of Omenihu and his strip sack on Jackson in one of the six plays he was featured in on Sunday. The team’s defense has given up only 14.3 points per game in the playoffs, but will truly be tested by the 49ers’ multi-sided offense next Sunday.
After the game, Omenihu said that he hoped to be ready for the Big Game against his former team, but with the diagnosis of a torn ACL, he will be sidelined until at least the start of the 2024 season. Omenihu’s contract with the Chiefs will end after this year and he will be a free agent going forward.
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