Scoresman
Footballguy
The defense has been pretty healthy all year long, so what we are seeing there is not new. They have carried this team all season.Any Chiefs fans care to comment on how the Chiefs turned it around? All year, they were the definition of a lackluster team, and then seemingly turned it all around for the playoffs. Was this playoff resurgence expected? Did they have people injured who came back for the playoffs, or was this just a case of a veteran team figuring it out at the right time?
As I mentioned upthread, the offense is a turd. They have looked good in spurts this postseason but they are not fixed. The main thing there is they have not turned the ball over. And Mahomes is willing to play for the punt because he knows the defense is solid. He has admitted this in interviews over the past few weeks.
And Reid is calling things ultra conservative right now. So him realizing he doesn't have playmakers has helped. But I will wanna see him play into that more. Call more play action. More slants and crossing patterns. More delayed screens and such. And then go for the home run downfield when it's there.
If he does THAT, the Chiefs are dangerous. But they simply cannot turtle up in the second half and expect the Niners to not move the ball. Shanahan is way too accomplished and in tune with his offense to let that happen.
I think at the end of the day in two weeks the Niners win because the Chiefs offense simply couldn't score when they needed to.
Thanks, I always try to find order in the chaos of the NFL playoffs. On paper, this year was the year to predict the chalk in the Superbowl, Bal vs SF. The Chiefs just beat the #3 all time DVOA team on the road, and the #6 all time DVOA team, the 49ers, needed 2 comebacks and a lot of luck to make it to the Superbowl.
When you look at the statistical criteria past Superbowl teams have had, the Chiefs have almost none of them. Things like high scoring margin, turnover margin (they were -11!!!!). Just shows how much defense, veteran coaching, and QB play matters, which is why I disagree with you and think the Chiefs eek out a win.