The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will meet at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, February 11, to compete for the trophy of Super Bowl LVII. Each team has strengths that can enable them to succeed.
The upcoming game against the 49ers will mark the 18th postseason game for the Chiefs' quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, the 22nd postseason game for tight end Travis Kelce, and the 16th for defensive tackle Chris Jones.
The total Super Bowl appearances for the Chiefs' 53 players is 66, while the Niners have only 16. Additionally, the Chiefs' players have accumulated 48 Super Bowl wins, while the 49ers have only four.
Sixteen of the Chiefs' starters, eight on the offensive team and eight on the defensive team, were part of the team that defeated the Philadelphia Eagles last year. The Chiefs' top three players also have plenty of experience in postseason games.
The Chiefs' experience
The game against the 49ers will be Mahomes' fourth Super Bowl appearance, placing him among the quarterbacks with the most Super Bowl appearances. He ranks third, alongside Jim Kelly, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, Roger Staubach, and Terry Bradshaw.
“I think the biggest way I've changed is kind of knowing what to expect,” said Mahomes.
"I've grown obviously as a quarterback and as a leader and as a person, but being able to have a game plan for what the Super Bowl week entails — and prepare myself to not play the Super Bowl before the Super Bowl game — is something that I'm hoping that I can use to my advantage.”
Not only do the players have experience, but the Chiefs also have a more experienced coach. Tomorrow's game will be the fifth Super Bowl for the Chiefs' coach, Andy Reid, placing him third on the list of coaches with the most Super Bowl appearances in NFL history.
The Chiefs' experience is their strength because the Super Bowl's atmosphere is different from other matches, with more distractions and greater pressure.
The 49ers' better QB play
On paper, the Niners' team appears superior, except for the quarterback position. However, most of the Chiefs' players have experience playing and winning in the Super Bowl. In fact, in 2019, the Chiefs faced the 49ers in the Super Bowl and won.
At the time, the Niners managed to secure a 10-point lead until 10 minutes before the game's end. However, the team failed to maintain ball possession, leading to a 20-31 loss. The two teams also met in October 2022 and February 2020, with the Chiefs winning both matches, 44-23 and 31-20.
As for the current rosetPurdy has proven himself capable of making crucial plays when the team is in a pinch. Purdy currently has the highest passing rating and yards per attempt, demonstrating his ability to throw deep passes and scramble. Additionally, Purdy benefits from having better playmakers.
The Niners' running back, Christian McCaffrey, earned the AP Offensive Player of the Year award and is among the players with the most touchdowns in the regular season, scoring 21 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Brandon Aiyuk has gained 1,324 yards on 105 targets, making him one of the most efficient receivers in the NFL. Deebo Samuel, who was a rookie in 2019, can now play a dual role as a runner or a receiver. Lastly, George Kittle can play a crucial role in both running and passing games.