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I agree with most people that our matchups are pretty good and generally we should win.
SF have outstanding wide receivers, especially compared to ours, but our CBs are elite also, and should neutralize that. And now that we are not using Toney or Moore anymore [hopefully] and CVS seems to be able to catch again, our WRs are no longer costing us games. So let’s call the WR CB matchup even, when against most teams that would normally be SFs biggest advantage.
When you look at Kelce and kittle, and how each team will cover the other teams TE, I think the match ups are even. I expect most posters here will disagree with that, but I try to look at things objectively.
I worry they will switch their running approach and send CMC up the middle far more than usual and that is not our strength. Bolton will need to play a really good game. He certainly showed last Super Bowl he can do that. But I expect Warner will neutralize Pacheco more than our linebackers will neutralize CMC. Advantage SF.
Our OTs have been playing well recently and I think Taylor should be able to handle Bosa especially with the tight end help he will be given, but the worry will be if Taylor starts getting significant penalties again. SF should have great difficulty handling Jones. And posters don’t seem to be giving Karlaftis the credit he deserves for his recent play. Also fortunately , he will not be facing Williams. And although Purdy showed in the Detroit game, he has much better foot work in the pocket then I realized, nobody has the Mahomes magic when a rusher gets past the OL. So advantage Kansas City, unless Taylor gets heavily penalized.
Our field goal game gives KC a big advantage. I don’t think there is much advantage to either team in the punt or kickoff return games.
And of course we have a major advantage in Mahomes over Purdy, although not as big as many posters here seem to suggest. Purdy won’t panic like Lamar. He won’t lose (or win) games by playing hero ball like Allen. But I think he has unusual leadership, and game winning qualities. Like Brady, Montana, Mahomes, and very few others have shown. Of course, he still needs to prove that, but I think the signs are there.
So overall, we should win. But not if the football gods are against us. The San Francisco Detroit game showed what an unbelievable difference that can make and very quickly. let’s hope they are not going to be on the San Francisco side in the Super Bowl like they were in the NFC championship game.
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