3 Super Bowl X-Factors for the Kansas City Chiefs

After a roller-coaster day of NFL Conference Championships, Super Bowl LVIII in "Fabulous" Las Vegas finally has its contestants.

As a rematch of Super Bowl LIV in 2020, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will once again rumble for ultimate gridiron supremacy. Naturally, the 49ers will be looking to avenge the collapsing loss -- a game that eventually gave quarterback Patrick Mahomes his first Lombardi Trophy.

The upcoming Super Bowl is officially less than two weeks out. If K.C. is to earn their third NFL title of the past five years, which players or position groups can make the winning difference?

With the dust settling from the conference championships last Sunday, here are my three X-factors for the Chiefs to defeat San Francisco in Super Bowl LVIII.

All NFL odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Super Bowl X-Factors: Kansas City Chiefs

See here for the 49ers' Super Bowl X-Factors.

Stopping The Run

Transparently, I don't believe it to be a secret that San Francisco likes to establish the run.

With 49ers All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams clearing lanes, All-Pro tailback Christian McCaffrey did well to earn his inaugural NFL rushing title this past regular season (1,459 yards) on 5.4 YPC. Additionally, the Stanford Cardinal alum was a scoring machine in 2023. Including playoffs, CMC has produced 25 all-purpose touchdowns -- a single-season franchise record.

Simply, the Chiefs would be wise to make McCaffrey a focal point of their defensive efforts. The 49ers have myriad dynamic athletes on offense, but if CMC is eating, the entire playbook -- including play action -- opens up for San Francisco HC Kyle Shanahan. At FanDuel Sportsbook, McCaffrey's Super Bowl LVIII rushing prop is set at 90.5 yards (-110/-110).

At numberFire, their power rankings have the 49ers' second-ranked rushing attack taking on Kansas City's 28th-ranked run defense. That matchup should lean toward S.F., but the Chiefs have taken on two of the other top-three ground offenses in the past two weeks -- K.C. looked mighty strong against the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.

Despite the analytics, the Chiefs have a stout defensive front. All-Pro DT Chris Jones (6-foot-6, 310 pounds) logged 10.5 sacks on the year while DE George Karlaftis added another 10.5. Behind them, mikebacker Nick Bolton plays the game with ferocity. As a fun player prop, the aforementioned Jones shows +108 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook to record a sack (where 0.5 sacks is graded as a winner).

In the regular season, S.F. went for an average of 140.5 rushing YPG (third-most). To the contrary, the Chiefs surrendered 113.2 YPG on the ground (15th-most) to opponents. Still, in these playoffs, K.C. has held teams under that clip in two of three contests.

Kansas City DC Steve Spagnuolo will likely try to keep CMC off the perimeter, pinching down on the dynamic runner. I imagine he would rather give 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy a chance to beat them as opposed to McCaffrey.

Protecting Patrick

As the most important player participating in Super Bowl LVIII, Mahomes will need to be kept clean if they are to hoist their third Lombardi Trophy in five years (and second over San Francisco).

When K.C. defeated the Niners in Miami four seasons ago, Patrick was sacked four times (once by Nick Bosa) but only for a total loss of 18 yards. That yardage is something the Chiefs can and will live with. However, it will be paramount this time around that Kansas City's offensive line wins the war against S.F.'s defensive front.

The Chiefs have undergone changes to the O-line in recent campaigns, but left guard Joe Thuney earned first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in 2023. His upcoming battle with 49ers DT Javon Hargrave will be as fierce as any on Allegiant Stadium's field.

K.C. right tackle Jawaan Taylor will likely have the toughest offensive assignment in Super Bowl LVIII, as he'll line up across from "Small Bear" Bosa. In 2023, Taylor had a tough campaign, drawing an overall PFF grade of 52.1 (66.4 pass-blocking grade). Also, the Florida Gators alum led all players at his position with 20 penalties drawn.

Naturally, the backs and tight ends will assist in protecting Mahomes at various moments, but it is not like Kansas City employs a group of bruisers in those departments. Mahomes will also need to rely on his elusiveness and wiggle in the pocket, which is one of his most underrated skills. Along with Bosa, Arik Armstead and Chase Young will look to pressure Mahomeboy with high frequency.

Largely, Mahomes was secured quite well this past regular season. When looking at his opposite number for the upcoming big game (Purdy), the Texas Tech Red Raiders alum was sacked one fewer time. Mahomes was dropped for a loss on 27 occasions -- compare that to youthful quarterbacks Sam Howell and Bryce Young, each of whom experienced north of 60 sacks in 2023.

Pedal To The Metal

With Mahomes slinging the pigskin, the Chiefs still operate with a dynamic skill group on offense. Sure, they led the NFL in drops this past year (44), but K.C. has both experience and big-play capability.

Superstar tight end Travis Kelce is the undisputed top option in Kansas City's passing attack. Even after failing to go over 1,000 receiving yards annually for the first time since 2015, Taylor Swift's boyfriend has stepped up his play in the postseason. Through his most recent three games, Kelce has compiled 262 yards with three touchdown receptions. For Super Bowl LVIII, FanDuel Sportsbook has Kelce's receiving prop reflecting 70.5 yards (-110/-110).

After "Killa Trav," tailback Isiah Pacheco and rookie wideout Rashee Rice are also dynamic players in space. With 79 catches, Rice logged the third-highest total among rookies this year. Meanwhile, Pacheco paces the 2023-24 playoffs in carries (63) and rushing yards (254). Additionally, receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling brings thorough postseason experience.

In the Divisional Round as well as the NFC title bid, San Francisco rallied behind second-half comeback efforts. Genuinely, this Chiefs offensive unit will attempt to put up enough points to where that sort of resurgent effort from the 49ers cannot happen. If K.C. can jump out to an early lead, keeping their collective foot on the gas pedal will be paramount. Certainly, head coach Andy Reid already knows this.

Despite any potential deficit, don't expect San Francisco to go quietly. That will especially pertain to the holdover 49ers starters from Super Bowl LIV -- Bosa, Armstead, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Kyle Juszczyk etc. -- who lost to these same Chiefs.

As a final note here, Kansas City has a superior defensive backfield compared to the Green Bay Packers or Detroit Lions. Lockdown cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie could play a major role toward stifling the receiving tandem of Aiyuk and Samuel. If S.F. falls into a comeback situation, Purdy will absolutely need his dynamic playmakers on the outside.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.