The Kansas City Chiefs will aim to be the first back-to-back Super Bowl winners since the New England Patriots doubled up in 2004 and 2005 this weekend when they take on the San Francisco 49ers.
Should they triumph, it will be a third championship in four years and the NFL will have its first dynasty since that Brady-Belichick tandem.
So what does head coach Andy Reid need to do to ensure that the 49ers don’t get revenge for their Super Bowl LIV defeat four years ago? Here is a look at some of the keys to a Kansas City victory in Las Vegas this weekend.
Help Mahomes
For extended stints this season, the Chiefs have been far too over-reliant on Patrick Mahomes. Whether it’s been dropped passes, a lack of a running game or protection issues on the line, the All-World QB has had to constantly paper over the cracks.
Thankfully for the Chiefs, there have been signs of life elsewhere in the offense in recent weeks though. Travis Kelce has been back to his reliable self in recent weeks, while Isiah Pacheco has torn through the playoffs. And the second-year running back could be key after the Niners looked all too soft up the middle in their wins over Green Bay and Detroit.
Should Kelce and Pacheco be firing in Vegas and with a bit of help from their receiving corps, the Chiefs may not have to rely on Mahomes’ playmaking abilities.
Pick your poison?
The battle between the freewheeling San Francisco offense and Steve Spagunolo’s highly effective defense should be something special. The Chiefs D has stopped three high-powered offenses so far in the playoffs, but the Niners multi-faceted skill positions attack is something else entirely.
If you go all-in on stopping Christian McCaffrey, then it opens the door for the play action to get working, where Brandon Aiyuk can hit you with a big play. Deebo Samuel can make something out of nothing and then there’s George Kittle who can be much more than simply Brock Purdy’s release value if the pressure is being dialled up.
Chris Jones is the big difference maker on the Chiefs defense and he will need to be fit and firing to ensure that the Niners do not get in a rhythm and surge ahead early.
Answer o-line questions
While Chris Jones will be the vital man on the Chiefs defense, Nick Bosa will be pivotal to the 49ers hopes of earning a sixth Lombardi trophy. The 49ers are likely to lean into the Bosa-Jawaan Taylor match-up, which looks to be the biggest mismatch on that side of the ball.
Taylor struggled against the Ravens last week and if he has another off day then Bosa can cause issues. There is also the fitness of All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, who missed the Ravens win with a pectoral injury and is yet to train with the Chiefs this week. Nick Allegretti replaced him and did not impress, which could also make Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave key factors in the trenches.
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