In a rematch of Super Bowl 54, the Chiefs and the 49ers battle it out in Las Vegas to see who will be the one team to rule them all.
The last five times these teams have met, the Kansas City Chiefs have won four matchups. One of those wins was Super Bowl 54. The San Francisco 49ers have been the better team all season, but the Chiefs have been the better team in the playoffs. The 49ers have a chance to have their revenge, but the Chiefs are looking to have their first back-to-back Super Bowl victories.
Ideas and opinions about the game and the outcome vary depending on whether you listen to analysts, players, or fans. However, this game can go either way. It only takes one mistake or one big play.
Kansas City
The Chiefs need Patrick Mahomes to be the playoff god he has been in this postseason. He needs to play a clean game with no interceptions or fumbles. Hopefully, Andy Reid and Matt Nagy have game planned for the possibility that the 49ers will try to take Travis Kelce out of the equation.
Fans also look forward to seeing what trick play Kansas City might have up their sleeve. The experience of the Chiefs will outweigh anything the 49ers might throw at them. Isiah Pacheco and Marquez Valdes-Scantling must step up even more than they have.
Steve Spagnuolo and the defense need to continue being the strong and steady souls of the Chiefs. They will need to pressure Brock Purdy into making mistakes. A few sacks would be great, also. Spagnuolo has done an excellent job all season, and the playoffs have shown a light on just how prepared he has his boys.
If the Chiefs stay true to who they have been all season and in the playoffs, they will get their back-to-back victories.
San Francisco
Purdy must be on fire if they hope to get past the Kansas City defense. Christian McCaffrey will need to make plays happen and get points on the board. The 49ers are more balanced on both sides of the ball than the Chiefs, giving them the advantage. If Purdy cannot find any receivers open, he might have to do it himself. He’s shown several times throughout the season that he can make it happen.
Nick Bosa and the defense will need to pressure and sack Mahomes as much as possible. They need to stifle the Kansas City offense, which seems to have righted the ship when the playoffs started. They need to find a way to keep Kelce covered and keep Pacheco from finding open lanes to run.
A clean game with no turnovers or fumbles will be a start, and they will also need to be careful with penalties. The Chiefs can take any opportunity and make it work in their favor. Kyle Shanahan needs to make sure his boys remember that. Perhaps then they will hoist the trophy.
Game Info
Date: Sunday, February 11, 2024
Start time: 6:30 PM ET
Location: Paradise, Nevada
Stadium: Allegiant Stadium
TV Info: CBS, Paramount +, NFL+
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of DraftKings.
Point Spread: KC +2(-115), SF -2(-105)
Moneyline: KC +100, SF -120
Over/Under: 47.5 KC -108, SF +112
The Chiefs won the only game they played as underdogs during the regular season and are 2-0 in the postseason. Meanwhile, the 49ers won 12 of the 17 games they were the moneyline favorite during the regular season and 2-0 as the moneyline favorite in the postseason.
What To Watch For
The 49ers have been storing up frustrations over the two weeks leading up to the game. From issues with their practice field to fire alarms in the middle of the night, look for them to take it all out on the Chiefs. San Franciso should come out early swinging with the running game; if they throw in small yardage gains repeatedly, they can keep Mahomes and his offense off the field. If Purdy can succeed, their defense can step up to keep the Chiefs from making big plays.
On the other hand, the Chiefs have done an excellent job of keeping the opposing team’s offense off the field this postseason. Look for that to continue and for Kelce and Pacheco to have big games. Chris Jones and the defense must keep the pressure on Purdy and limit him.
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