NFL Playoffs Conversation: Split on Super Bowl LVIII

by Eric Fulton & Julian Spivey

​*This conversation had been edited for grammar and clarity.

JS: Super Bowl LVIII between the AFC Champion and defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers is Sunday, February 11 on CBS.

Let’s break down the key positions for the big game!

At quarterback for the Chiefs is, of course, Patrick Mahomes who has led the Chiefs to two Super Bowl titles already at just 28 years old. The 49ers have Brock Purdy, who was famously Mr. Irrelevant or the final draft pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, and now less than two years later is leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl.

Which team has the advantage here?

EF: As much as I like Brock Purdy and respect him for what he has done in two years, the obvious answer is Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes is playing in his fourth Super Bowl in the last five years. Not a lot of quarterbacks can say that. It is beyond amazing what Mahomes is doing and he will (hopefully) still play another 10 years in the league.

JS: I agree with you that the obvious answer is Patrick Mahomes with his experience, but the wild thing here is that Brock Purdy is one of the NFL MVP finalists this year and Mahomes isn't and we're still taking Mahomes as the no-brainer.

JS: Speaking of no-brainers, the running back position has to go to the 49ers and Christian McCaffrey, right? He's one of the five NFL MVP finalists too and the best back in the league at the moment. Is Isiah Pacheco even in his zip code?

EF: While Isiah Pacheco has played well at times for Kansas City this year, this is yet another no-brainer. When the 49ers acquired Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers, I thought this would be the best place for him because the 49ers want to run the ball and they rely on McCaffery to use his speed and his ability to make plays that help set up the pass. The Chiefs' defense will have to make sure to stop the run and force Purdy to pass when he does not want to.

JS: Let's go ahead and put the receivers and tight ends together here. The two best tight ends in the NFL will be featured in this game in Travis Kelce for the Chiefs and George Kittle for the 49ers. The 49ers also have fantastic wide receivers in Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. The receivers corps for the Chiefs has been probably the team's biggest question mark this season. Of the receivers not dating Taylor Swift, the only one with more than 500 receiving yards this year was Rashee Rice, who hasn't played in the postseason due to injury. Marquez Valdes-Scantling had been the team's second option in the passing game behind Kelce this postseason. This seems like another no-brainer ... so how far behind are the Chiefs?

EF: If the Chiefs had one or two decent wide receivers to go along with Kelce, this would be a push. I don't think the Chiefs are that far off because of Kelce, but if Kelce has a monster game, the 49ers are going to lose.

JS: When it comes to the defensive side of the ball neither of these teams are slouches. Both are in the top eight in the league when it comes to defensive yards allowed averages. The Chiefs were the second-best this season allowing 289.3 yards to their opponents, while the 49ers were eighth allowing 303.9 yards. During the postseason, the Chiefs have seen their average at 322.7 yards over three games and the 49ers are at 386 over two games. The Chiefs have been giving up less than two touchdowns on average this postseason, while the 49ers are closer to four in one less game.

Eric, which team has the defensive advantage?

EF: This game is going to come down to whoever plays defense the best. The 49ers have not played the best defense in the playoffs but if they can get on a roll, they are hard to stop. The Chiefs are much better this year than in years past. Now you are seeing the offense not being relied on so much. I was surprised Kansas City only scored 17 points in the AFC Championship and won. I did pick the Chiefs to win, but I thought they would score at least 20 or more to do so. The Chiefs have been really good down the stretch and I see them being the better unit of the two teams, so I will give the slight edge to the Chiefs.

JS: Based on everything you said I’m assuming you’re going to predict the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl?

EF: Yeah, I am. As much as I think the 49ers are very good and can win this game, I see the Chiefs playing the better game and, once again, I can't bet against Mahomes and coach Andy Reid.

JS: I’ve been on record throughout this conversation we’ve been having all postseason as saying I’d need to see the Chiefs lose before I could predict them to lose. But the 49ers have so many bright spots that I’m having a harder time sticking the that. I know the Chiefs have had a bit better of a defense this season and the Chiefs have looked like the better of the two teams in the postseason. But my gut is telling me Christian McCaffrey is going to have a big game and the 49ers are going to pull out a close one.