SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Few people proselytize about the importance of tight ends more than San Francisco's George Kittle.
So Kittle showed no surprise about the fact that the four teams playing on championship weekend all rely heavily on the tight end in the passing game.
"Tight ends give you the ability to mismatch whether it's on linebackers or safeties.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for the way he plays the game, man,” said Lions coach Dan Campbell, a former NFL tight end.
The second-round pick set a rookie playoff record for tight ends with nine catches last week and his 86 for the season also were the most ever for a rookie tight end.
Persons:
Francisco's George Kittle, Kittle, ”, it's, Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta —, Mark Andrews, Isaiah, ” Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, “ I’ve, Dan Campbell, LaPorta, “, Coach Campbell, Kelce, Taylor Swift, Jerry Rice, Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, ” Reid, Andrews, Lamar Jackson's, ” Campbell, Larry Lage, Dave Skretta, Noah Trister, ___
Organizations:
NFL, Kansas City, Lions, AFC, Ravens, AP Sports
Locations:
SANTA CLARA, Calif, Kansas, Francisco, Iowa