We’re simply days away from the Tremendous Bowl conflict between the 49ers and the Chiefs, and it’s laborious to venture who’s going to win.

On one hand, can you actually guess towards playoff Patrick Mahomes? However however, the Niners seemed like the very best group within the NFL for a lot of the 12 months, whereas the Chiefs received video games despite their offensive efficiency relatively than due to it.

Who higher to provide us perception on how the Niners can beat the Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl 58 than Kansas Metropolis’s AFC West rivals?

Michael Peterson, Bolts from the Blue

The 2023 common season confirmed us a special type of Chiefs group than we’ve been used to in recent times. They have been nonetheless one of many higher groups within the NFL, however they someway seemed…mortal? Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Andy Reid have constructed one of many league’s greatest dynasties, however this previous season, the offense particularly seemed like it could lastly be dethroned within the AFC.

Oh how fallacious all of us have been.

Regardless of some offensive woes, the Kansas Metropolis protection modified from a middling group to top-of-the-line within the NFL over the 2023 offseason. For years, it’s been Mahomes and Co. carrying the opposite facet of the ball as they basically solely wanted to carry opponents to twenty-eight factors or much less to ensure their high-powered offense got here out on high. Not many groups have that room for error. However this season, the Chiefs didn’t must be All-World on offense to win video games. They ended the 2023 common season because the No. 2 protection within the NFL in factors and yards allowed per sport.

Guys like defensive sort out Chris Jones (10.5 sacks), edge rusher George Karlaftis (10.5 sacks), and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (two interceptions) have been lights out on the sphere for his or her unit. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has completed a few of his most interesting work this season and with out it, the Chiefs won’t have even made the playoffs this 12 months.

Offensively, the Chiefs needed to combat by means of some drop points early within the season with their younger group of receivers, particularly with former first-round decide Kadarius Toney. Rookie wideout Rashee Rice has swiftly cemented himself as Mahomes’ favourite goal outdoors of his All-World tight finish, ending the 12 months with just below 1,000 yards and 7 touchdowns.

By way of the group’s three playoff video games, Kelce has someway managed to show again the clock for a resurgent efficiency by means of their first three playoff video games. Coming into the Tremendous Bowl, he’s hauled in 23 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. That yardage complete is the third-highest of his profession and he wants yet another landing to tie a playoff profession excessive.

One of many unsung heroes of the Chiefs offense in 2023 has received to be second-year operating again Isiah Pacheco. Whereas all of the memes about his operating type are getting a lot of the highlight, the previous seventh-round pick of Rutgers loved a profession 12 months with 935 speeding yards, 244 receiving yards, and 9 complete touchdowns. You can also make enjoyable of how he “appears like a child making an attempt on new sneakers at Footlocker” all you need, however his explosive velocity will catch defenses off guard in the event that they don’t give him the respect he deserves.

Lastly, I’d be fallacious to not point out kicker Harrison Butker. The man is as necessary to the Chiefs’ dynasty as anybody because of the ice water flowing by means of his veins in each high-pressure second. Other than the Ravens’ Justin Tucker, I don’t suppose you’ll discover any kicker extra dependable when it issues most. Butler missed simply two of his 35 discipline purpose makes an attempt this season, together with making all 5 makes an attempt over 50 yards.

Tim Lynch, Mile Excessive Report

Sure, we’ve gotten ourselves one more Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Tremendous Bowl look — their fourth in 5 seasons. What higher solution to root for his or her demise than to indicate how the San Francisco 49ers can comply with our personal Denver Broncos’ blueprint to take them down in Tremendous Bowl LVIII.

The Broncos performed the Chiefs twice this season and gave their offense matches in each contests. In Kansas Metropolis, the protection held them to only 19 factors in a loss after which in Denver, Patrick Mahomes and that offense put up 9 measly factors in a 24-9 Broncos’ victory. That’s only a 14 points-per-game common that any group within the NFL would take towards that offense.

However how did Denver do it? To reply that query we’d like to check out how Denver was in a position to restrict the Chiefs’ scoring alternatives within the pink zone. You may’t cease a group just like the Chiefs from getting yards, so it’s a must to deal with retaining them out of the tip zone.

Denver achieved these ends in quite a lot of methods. From creating stress on Mahomes, getting turnovers, and thru their third and fourth down stops. Turnovers will be type of iffy to each depend on and to generate when wanted, so we’ll ignore that regardless of Denver popping out +2 general in two video games.

Third/fourth down effectivity

The one solution to get off the sphere with out a turnover is to drive them to kick or flip it over on downs. That’s one thing that Denver did with wonderful frequency towards Mahomes and the Chiefs. In two video games, Kansas Metropolis was a laughable 7/23 on third downs and 1/4 on fourth downs. In the event you embody these turnover on downs, Denver really completed +4 in turnover differential. That’s enormous towards a group like Kansas Metropolis.

The issue right here is that the 49ers protection was fairly actually horrible at getting off the sphere on third downs. They ranked twenty seventh within the NFL and it’s really worse than that as a result of they have been lifeless final by a large margin down the stretch. Nonetheless, they have been marginally higher at retaining groups out of the tip zone — a lot better than Denver was really. That’s actually the purpose towards Kansas Metropolis. Restrict these touchdowns.

Stress, stress, stress

You may restrict these touchdowns by getting after Patrick Mahomes and making his day a dwelling hell. This is perhaps the closest comparability to Denver and San Francisco I’ve received. Each groups have been under common at producing stress, however for the Broncos they confirmed up towards Kansas Metropolis. San Francisco should do the identical.

Nothing units the Chiefs again greater than having an extended drive finish with zero factors. In a good sport, which the Broncos 24-9 win over the Chiefs was, it turns into the distinction between a win and a loss.

The 49ers can get after the quarterback. They have been seventh within the league in sacks, however sixteenth in stress charges. To repair this, they might should attempt one thing new within the Tremendous Bowl. Vance Joseph and the Broncos’ protection blitzed on the fifth-highest charge within the NFL final season, however the 49ers have been thirtieth in blitz percentages. Possibly throw Andy Reid and the Chiefs a curveball with some additional blitz packages for this sport solely. Simply go watch the Broncos movie and see how they created confusion and turnovers with their blitzing of Mahomes.

Last ideas

The 49ers and Chiefs each had stout defenses in factors given up, so I’d count on a decrease rating sport if it wasn’t the Tremendous Bowl. Loopy issues occur in Tremendous Bowls, so I wouldn’t be silly sufficient to foretell a defensive battle on this sport. Regardless of them being two of solely three groups to surrender lower than 300 factors final season, I’d count on loads of offense to occur between punts.

That stated, San Francisco goes to should deliver the warmth on Mahomes and drive him to make some errant throws. If they only sit again and attempt to play protection, he’ll decide them aside together with his improvisation expertise. As suspect because the Chiefs’ offense has been this season, you actually don’t need to tempt destiny with No. 15 again there. Frustrate him and also you’ll discover a path to victory a lot simpler.

Invoice Williamson, Silver & Black Delight

Because the San Francisco 49ers scour for tactics to get info on easy methods to beat the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LVIII, they might need to carefully examine the tape of the Chiefs’ two video games towards the AFC West rival Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.

The issue, although, for the 49ers is they might be considerably confused after watching this season’s two matchups between the Raiders and Chiefs. The video games between the 2 groups have been fairly completely different.

In Week 12, the Chiefs beat the Raiders 31-17 on the street at Allegiant Stadium. By the best way, the Chiefs are 4-0 because the Raiders beginning taking part in in Las Vegas in 2020. The Tremendous Bowl, in fact, is being performed in Las Vegas for the primary time.

A month later, on Christmas Day, the Raiders returned the street favor by gorgeous the Chiefs in a standalone sport in entrance of a nationwide viewers, beating the flat Chiefs 20-14. It was the simply the second time in 11 years that the Raiders received at Arrowhead Stadium, and it delayed the Chiefs clinching their eighth straight AFC West title by per week.

Once more, these two video games have been completely different.

The Raiders really jumped throughout Kansas Metropolis to begin the sport in Las Vegas. The Raiders jumped out to a 14-0 lead early within the second quarter. Then the Chiefs (who overcame a 17-0 deficit to beat the Raiders in Kansas Metropolis within the 2022 season) awoke and fully took the sport over by outscoring the Raiders 31-3 in lower than three quarters.

The Chiefs fully clamped down on the Raiders after recognizing them the early lead.

After the sport, Las Vegas cornerback Amik Robertson made headlines when he stated the Raiders had “extra canines” than the Chiefs. It was met with some skepticism because the Chiefs pummeled the Raiders for a lot of the sport and that they have been the defending Tremendous Bowl champions.

But, Robertson’s perspective set the tone for the Raiders heading into their sport at Arrowhead Stadium. The Raiders, who entered the Week 16 sport with a 6-8 report and who completed the season at 8-9, have been already feeling nice coming off a 63-21 win over the Los Angles Chargers, setting a group report for factors scored.

So, interim coach Antonio Pierce (who mainly received the everlasting job that day) had the Raiders believing they might pull off the upset in Kansas Metropolis. Pierce’s play was to punch the Chiefs within the face and out-hustle them. That’s precisely what they did.

The Raiders gave the impression to be the extra centered, group from the opening kickoff. It was gorgeous because the Chiefs have been taking part in a house vacation sport with an opportunity to clinch the division and the Raiders have been holding onto slight playoff hopes.

The Raiders’ bodily play confirmed most upfront on either side of the ball. The line of defense manhandled the Chiefs offensive line and made Patrick Mahomes uncomfortable all sport lengthy.

Offensively, the Raiders wore down Kansas Metropolis late on the bottom and completed with 157 speeding yards. Getting Christian McCaffrey to grind down the Chiefs underrated protection and retaining Mahomes off the sphere would certainly be one thing the 49ers wish to study from the Raiders’ win in Kansas Metropolis.

The Chiefs did assist the Raiders by giving up two defensive scores, dropping a number of passes, making premature penalties and lacking a makeable discipline purpose. However the Raiders outplayed them and earned the win.

Kansas Metropolis’s coach just lately stated the loss offered a wake-up name for his group that has received 5 straight video games since. Kansas Metropolis has seemed like a special group since that sport.

So it’s troublesome to inform if the 49ers can study one thing from the Raiders’ video games towards the Chiefs. Their greatest guess is to attempt to replicate the Raiders pass-rush assault with their very own daunting defensive entrance.

Making Mahomes uncomfortable and getting him out of his consolation zone paved the best way for the Raiders win. In the event that they 49ers can do the identical, they’ll possible hoist the Lombardi Trophy.