Jake Moody hasn't ruined the 49ers season. Yet.
The 49ers' rookie kicker has missed four kicks in the past three games. He missed a 38-yard field goal attempt and an extra point Week 18 against the Rams. He missed a 48-yarder in the divisional playoff against the Packers. And he missed another 48-yarder wide right in the NFC Championship Game against the Lions.
Moody is saving his worst for the playoffs.
So far, the 49ers have overcome his mistakes, because they're much better than the other teams in the NFC. Still, they were heavy favorites over the Packers and Lions and beat each team by just three points. Which means the Super Bowl could be a close game, too.
The 49ers currently are one-point favorites over the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, and the over/under is set at 47.5, which means the oddsmakers expect the 49ers to win by a final score of roughly 24-23. If that's accurate, the result could come down to a Moody field goal at the end.
Should the 49ers let him attempt that field goal with the season on the line, or should they start doing what the Lions did all season and simply go for it on fourth down instead of kicking field goals?
It would make sense to be more aggressive on fourth down considering all the weapons the 49ers have on offense, including their quarterback, Brock Purdy, who's a tremendous threat to ad lib and scramble.
But I don't expect the 49ers to change a thing. Shying away from Moody would be an admission of weakness, and the 49ers won't acknowledge any weakness. They insist they believe in Moody.
We'll see if he warrants their belief.
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