After some struggles in the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl and will face the San Francisco 49ers.
The February 11 game will be their fourth appearance in the last five seasons. One can say they own that stage.
They are the defending champions, led by arguably the best player in NFL postseasons in the last five years.
Right now, they are +1.5 underdogs to defend their title.
The Niners finished higher overall and ended their regular season assignments well. They have a better roster, too. That's where the problem lies for the Chiefs.
Unlike in the game against the Baltimore Ravens, they only needed to neutralize one player- Lamar Jackson.
Against the Niners, there will be a tough battle on all fronts.
The key to victory for them is containing the 49ers' wide arsenal of offensive schemes.
Key to winning: Poise and Steve Spagnuolo's defensive scheme
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo plotted a very effective plan against Jackson in the AFC Championship game last week.
Read more: Who Is Brock Purdy's Girlfriend?
He must prepare his team against a possible onslaught by Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle, who are regular targets for Brock Purdy.
"I don't love the Niners O-line, but they don't have a lot of plays where they're waiting for 10 minutes for people to get open," an AFC executive said.
"I could see San Francisco moving it and scoring pretty easily. I don't love the matchups for Kansas City."
Spagnuolo is being hailed as someone who elevated the Chiefs. Yes, they won the Super Bowl in 2023, but they were able to improve in terms of defense. He is a cult hero now that even players wear "In Spag We Trust" shirts.
For 2023, the Chiefs were first in expected points allowed (-0.072), according to RBSDM.com. The stat is just a tad shy of their 2022 regular season (-0.076) record.
The Detroit Lions were able to contain these guys, at least in the first half of their NFC showdown. Purdy saved them from their slow start.
Charles Omenihu will not be able to play in the Super Bowl. This means more work for Chris Jones and the rest of the Chiefs defenders.
The reason they will not win - Christian McCaffrey
The NFL will have new champions if McCaffrey goes nuclear against the Chiefs.
Brandon Aiyuk had his moments in the 49ers' win over the Lions, but MVP candidate McCaffrey has been consistent in their last two wins.
When they were about to get upset by the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round, the 27-year-old running back was there to rescue them.
He led the league with 1,459 rushing yards, including 2,203 yards from scrimmage and 21 total touchdowns.
Fans have nothing to worry about McCaffrey's status as he cleared that there was just a minor hiccup in his health, and he is ready to roar.
For the Chiefs, there is plenty to prepare for against the 49ers with him in the lineup.
Related article: 3 Reasons Baltimore Ravens Lost to Chiefs in AFC Championship
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