Super Bowl LVIII: 4 Keys to the Game for Anxious KC Chiefs Fans

When you look at the big picture, it's tough to take any meaningful issue with the Kansas City Chiefs. The organization has been on an incredible run, making the AFC Championship Game seem like their own personal invitational tournament. That trend even held true this season. For all of the concerns about an iffy offense, the reigning champs are back in the Super Bowl.

But, this is the Big Game. Nerves are always going to be part of the equation. That's understandable from a fan's perspective. In a single-elimination situation, a single mistake can undo a year's worth of hard work. And consider that Super Bowl appearances are never a guarantee, and the stakes get that much higher.

With that in mind, we broke things down from a K.C. perspective. If you're feeling anxious about things going sideways on Sunday, these keys to the game will help you determine how stressed you'll need to be.

Stop Run Without Getting Burned by Pass

This year, the Chiefs' defense has been one of the club's biggest strengths. During the variety of offensive struggles, Steve Spagnuolo's unit held firm. They allowed the second-fewest yards and points per contest, giving Kansas City a chance to win just about every game.

And while those numbers look impressive, there is a potential soft underbelly: defending against the run.

During the regular season, the Chiefs allowed more than 113 rushing yards per game. Their postseason average is right around the same mark, but it doesn't tell the whole story.

In the divisional round, Buffalo shredded the K.C. defense for 182 rushing yards. Most expected Baltimore to follow that trend, but the Ravens almost refused to run. Against the 49ers, though, the Chiefs won't get as lucky. Kyle Shanahan is known for using a version of his father's zone-running scheme, and with Christian McCaffrey in the backfield, San Francisco has one of the game's top ball-carriers to lean on.

It's safe to assume that Spagnuolo will understand that reality and pack the box as he did against the Ravens. The NFC champs, however, are a bit more potent in the pass-catching game. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are versatile threats, capable of making a difference as receivers or ball-carriers. George Kittle is a top-tier tight end, and McCaffrey is comfortable catching passes out of the backfield.

That's quite a bit different than defending Zay Flowers and a Mark Andrews who was coming off a long absence.

The Chiefs have a capable secondary, but selling out to stop the run could leave them isolated on an island. And all it takes is one big play for things to tilt in the 49ers favor.

Creating Pressure Without Charles Omenihu

Spagnuolo has developed a reputation as someone who's unafraid to bring the heat in all sorts of creative ways. That will be especially relevant during the Super Bowl. Brock Purdy, for all of his success, is still relatively inexperienced, and you'd think that Kansas City would produce all sorts of creative blitzes to try and throw him off.

With that said, though, there are personnel considerations on both sides of the ball. For San Francisco, Trent Williams is an elite blocker, but the rest of the offensive line can be a bit leaky. That could be especially problematic for the Niners given Chris Jones' positional flexibility and K.C.'s willingness to bring pressure. If a linebacker or a cornerback crashes, who will pick him up?

But on the Chiefs' side of things, Charles Omenihu will be absent after suffering an ACL injury in the AFC title game. While you could argue that he'd be running into a brick wall against Williams, the former 49er knows how to get after the quarterback. And his injury could create something of a domino effect, allowing San Francisco's pass protection to focus more attention on everyone else. A double-team against Jones, for example, would make life tougher for Kansas City.

It's also worth noting that conventional football wisdom says running the ball is a key way to beat the blitz. And given what we previously discussed about San Fran's ground game, you could understand why the Chiefs might be hesitant to bring the house.

That's where the balancing act comes in. You don't want to completely change your game at the final hurdle, but you also can't run blindly into a mistake.

Will the "In Spags We Trust" trend continue on Sunday? He's certainly earned the benefit of the doubt.

Keeping Mahomes Clean

While Patrick Mahomes' incredible arm strength usually garners plenty of headlines, the quarterback also has a sixth sense in the pocket and has an uncanny ability to escape from pressure at the right moment to extend the play. That talent will probably come in handy during the Super Bowl.

Nick Bosa leads the way as the Niners' top sack artist (10.5 on the season), but he's not the only member of the NFC champs capable of getting after the quarterback. Javon Hargrave pitched in seven sacks, and Arik Armstead added five more.

Those pass rushers could be a problem for Kansas City. Nick Allegretti deputized well for Joe Thuney in the AFC title game, but it's still less than ideal to be (presumably) playing without an All-Pro at the heart of the offensive line. It's also worth noting that tackles Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor have found themselves in the referees' collective crosshairs this season. Bosa will challenge even the best pass-protection unit. His presence could inspire Kansas City to cheat a bit, potentially setting up some painful penalties.

Running back Jerick McKinnon, who's no slouch when it comes to pass blocking, probably won't be ready for the Big Game.

In fairness to Andy Reid and Kansas City's offense, they handled Baltimore's pass rush relatively well during their most recent outing. Mahomes moved the ball quickly, and Isiah Pacheco provided a metaphorical punch to the defense's gut. No. 15 is also capable of scrambling, but you don't want to take away his ability to throw the ball.

The trick, however, will be overall offensive balance, which brings us to our next point.

Striking Right Balance on Offense

When you think of Mahomes and the Chiefs offense, big-play potential probably springs to mind. These days, though, things are a bit different.

Thanks to a multi-faceted evolution—defenses started to play deeper, shell coverages to take away the home run balls, and the departure of Tyreek Hill changed the offensive dynamic—Kansas City leans a bit more into ball control now. With a stout interior line, a capable running back and Mahomes throwing shorter, quicker passes, the club matriculates (to use Hank Stram's famous phrase) down the field.

On one hand, that can be a strength. By and large, holding onto the ball is the ultimate form of defense. But, by the same token, the Chiefs can sometimes get a bit static. Take the AFC Championship as an example. Kansas City was able to own the first half but struggled to move the chains after halftime. Some conservative play-calling, combined with improved Baltimore play, brought the season back into the balance.

A big play, like the pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling that ultimately sealed the game, is sometimes needed to break through the stagnation. The challenge for Reid and Mahomes is finding that right balance—neither being too aggressive nor too passive is the ideal course of action when your season is on the line.

And, beyond the play-calling, there's a question of reliability: Who will be K.C.'s big-play threat? Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice are difference-makers, but they're usually running shorter routes and making things happen after the catch. Is Valdes-Scantling reliable enough to make the most of a handful of big opportunities? Could Kadarius Toney come back into the fold and redeem himself with a season-saving play?

Ultimately, the current Kansas City Chiefs' run has earned the club the benefit of the doubt. When the chips are down, no contest feels unwinnable. The Super Bowl and its sky-high stakes, though, will put even the most confident fan to the test.

At this point, all we can do is wait and watch what happens.