Super Bowl LVIII is locked in after the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs stamped their tickets to Las Vegas at the weekend.
Fans will be treated to a rematch of 2020’s Super Bowl LIV which saw the Chiefs come from behind to deny the Niners, but this year’s clash will be a very different-looking affair, with only a few faces left on each roster from their previous big game clash.
The bookmakers have this one down as being a very close contest, but if you go position-by-position, who has the edge? Here’s a look at each position group to see what it tells us.
Quarterback
49ers: Brock Purdy
Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes
For all that Brock Purdy has achieved in the two years since he was selected by the Niners as the very last pick of the 2022 draft, this one is a no-brainer. Even after back-to-back playoff comeback wins, the most ardent Purdy-ite won’t argue that he’s better than Patrick Mahomes, who is the best player of his generation and will be hunting his third Super Bowl ring in eight years in the NFL in Vegas.
Edge: Chiefs
Wide Receiver
49ers: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings
Chiefs: Rashee Rice, Justin Watson, Marquez Valdes-Scanting
In Samuel and Aiyuk, Purdy is able to call upon one of the best receiving duos in the league. If one doesn’t get you, the other will. The Chiefs receiving corps have been guilty of dropping far too many passes this season, although they have been trending in the right direction during the playoffs.
Edge: 49ers
Running Back
49ers: Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell
Chiefs: Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Most watchers of the NFL this season will agree that McCaffrey has clearly been the best running back in the league. Pacheco’s tough running style will cause the Niners issues, but the 49ers have the edge again here.
Edge: 49ers
Tight End
49ers: George Kittle
Chiefs: Travis Kelce
This is a tough one to call. For most of the season, Kittle has had the edge, with the Niners star back to his best in both the passing and the blocking game. After an inconsistent regular season, Kelce has stepped up when it matters in the playoffs, putting in an 11-catch, 116-yard performance against the Ravens. Given the form he’s in, that gives the Chiefs the narrowest of edges in this one.
Edge: Chiefs
Offensive line
49ers: Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford, Colton McKivitz
Chiefs: Donovan Smith, Nick Allegretti, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor
When you look at the metrics, both the Niners and the Chiefs have somewhat middle-of-the-road offensive lines. Future Hall of Famer Trent Williams is the glue that holds the 49ers line together, while the Chiefs are sweating on the fitness of Joe Thuney after a pectoral injury kept him out of the win over the Ravens. Should he miss out in Vegas, the Niners have the better unit here.
Edge: 49ers
Overall
The 49ers offense has weapons all over the field and put in some historically great performances this season. With McCaffrey, Samuel, Aiyuk and Kittle all racking up 1,000+ yards in the regular season, they have plenty of ways to hurt you.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, have Mahomes. But given how his supporting cast have not delivered in the manner that the Niners’ has for Purdy this season, the 49ers offense has the edge.
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