Breaking down the greatest receiver matchup in Super Bowl history
Ja'Marr Chase and Cooper Kupp used different styles in garnering All-Pro selections
Michael Irvin vs. Andre Reed. Victor Cruz vs. Wes Welker. Drew Pearson vs. Stallworth and Swann. The Super Bowl has seen great receivers face off, but nothing close to what NFL fans are in store for Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
With Cooper Kupp of the Rams, we have perhaps the greatest statistical season of any NFL receiver. And with Ja’Marr Chase of the Bengals, we might have the greatest ever rookie season. The two combined for 226 receptions and 3,402 receiving yards this season, both earning All-Pro selections. (Vote for who will have the better game!)
Using stathead.com, the combined receiving yards are nearly 300 more than the next pair of competing Super Bowl pass catchers — Cruz had 1,536 yards in 2011 with the Giants, who beat Wes Welker (1,569 yards) and the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Chase had an NFL rookie-record 1,455 receiving yards (Bill Groman has the AFL record with 1,473 yards in 1960) and 81 catches, earning second-team All-Pro. Chase stretched the field for Joe Burrow, averaging the fourth-most yards per catch (17.96) among players with 20-plus receptions. Kupp averaged 13.43 yards per catch.
The Cincinnati receiver had a reception in all 17 regular-season games, and has 20 more in three postseason victories. The next most prolific Bengals receiver is Tee Higgins, who had 74 catches for 1,091 yards this season.
Chase had two of the season’s three 200-yard games (Davante Adams, with 206 yards at Cincinnati, had the other), including a three-touchdown, 266-yard performance in a 34-31 win over the visiting Chiefs. The rookie had 11 catches on 12 targets (91.7 catch percentage) and 24.18 yards per reception in that game.
Kupp earned first-team All-Pro with 145 catches (second all time to Michael Thomas’ 149 with the Saints in 2019) for 1,947 yards (second to Calvin Johnson’s 1,964 in 2012). The fifth-year player had a 75.9% catch percentage, leading receivers with 1,200 yards.
The Los Angeles star had five regular-season games with 10-plus receptions (matching Adams for the NFL season high) and never had fewer than five. Kupp has 25 catches in three postseason wins.
With help from the league’s added 17th game, Kupp also tied the NFL record with 11 100-yard games, matching Irvin (1995) and Johnson (2012). Kupp never had fewer than 60 yards receiving. The next most prolific Rams receiver was Van Jefferson, with 50 catches and 802 receiving yards.
Chase and Kupp dominate in their own ways. Chase (6-foot, 201 pounds) ran a lightning-fast 4.34 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, along with a 41-inch vertical leap coming out of LSU (SEC). Kupp (6-2, 204) ran 4.62 with a 31-inch vertical in 2017 out of Eastern Washington (Big Sky). The athleticism and speed allows Chase to blow past defensive backs. Compared to Kupp, Chase averages catching the ball 2.3 more yards downfield, and then gaining 2.2 more yards after the catch. It results in 4.5 more yards per reception. Chase also averages four more yards on his depth of target (includes incompletions). Burrow isn’t looking for small chunks of yards.
So it’s no surprise Chase had four catches for more than 60 yards, while Kupp had none. Though Kupp did have one more catch of 40-plus yards.
What Kupp loses in speed, he makes up for in hands and route running. He caught 12.4% more targeted passes than Chase this season, and had half the percentage of drops. Kupp also caught a first down on nearly 3% more targets.
When Matthew Stafford needs a first down, he turns to Kupp, who had a 73.8 catch percentage on 42 third-down targets, moving the chains on 26 of 31 catches. In contrast, Burrow targeted Chase on 37 third downs, and the rookie had a 64.9 catch percentage on 37 targets, moving the chain on 16 of 24 catches.
For the second consecutive Super Bowl, one team has home-field advantage. Playing in their Raymond James Stadium last year, Tampa Bay waltzed to a 31-9 victory over the Chiefs. Kupp actually averages slightly better numbers on the road, but Chase’s stats dip when playing away from Cincy. He averaged 6.0 catches for 105.0 yards in home games this season, but only 3.4 catches and 63.8 yards receiving on the road.