Super Bowl Sunday: Chiefs look to end 50-year title drought

It probably feels like an eternity for most Kansas City Chiefs fans since the team’s 35-24 thumping of the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship game two weeks ago.

The long wait for Super Bowl Sunday is almost over as the Chiefs endeavor to end their 50-year Super Bowl title drought when they take the field against the San Francisco 49ers in Miami. They last hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in January, 1970, as the Len Dawson led Chiefs triumphed over the Minnesota Vikings, 23-7, in Super Bowl IV.

Area Chiefs fans can hardly contain their excitement for the big game.

“Finally being able to see something that I’ve waited literally my entire life to see,” said die-hard Chiefs fan, Sarah Haney. “I’ve been cheering on the Chiefs since I was born, basically, so seeing them win would mean everything.”

Haney says she plans on attending the Eagles Lodge members and by invitation-only Super Bowl party, in which the showdown will be displayed on a large projector.

It will be no easy task for Kansas City, as the 49ers are fresh off a pair of dominant playoff victories, defeating the Vikings and Packers. Led by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers boast a balanced offensive attack.

That attack features running back Raheem Mostert, who gashed the Packers for 220 yards and four touchdowns in a record-breaking postseason performance, as well as top-flight tight end George Kittle and wide-outs Emmanuel Sanders and Deebo Samuel.

Led by a fearsome front-four, the 49ers concluded the regular-season raked No. 2 in total defense.

During their postseason run the 49ers’ defense has severely limited its two opponents' ground game, yielding just 41.5 rushing yards per game. The Chiefs counter that with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the league’s most explosive offense.

Mahomes, the 2018 NFL MVP, has tossed eight touchdown passes and zero interceptions this postseason, while also proving to be fleet afoot.

After slow starts out of the gate the past two games, Mahomes will undoubtedly look to reverse that trend on Sunday — a necessity against a complete 49ers’ squad.

Despite their pass-heavy attack, Reid’s game-plan will likely attempt to establish some semblance of a ground-game, with running back Damien Williams leading the charge. Kansas City’s passing attack, meanwhile, has become the stuff of legend. Tyreek Hill, Travis Kecle, rookie Mecole Hardman, and Sammy Watkins will place immense pressure on defensive back Richard Sherman and the 49ers secondary.

Defensively, Kansas City will need to rattle Garoppolo, as lineman Chris Jones, cornerback Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu, and company will look to manufacture turnovers, exploiting Garoppolo’s at-times erratic decision making in the pocket.

National experts believe the clash will be won at the line of scrimmage, specifically the 49ers defensive front versus the Chiefs’ offensive line. While the 49ers are considered to have the clear-cut best defensive line in the NFL, the Chiefs are considered to have an overall elite offensive line.

The Chiefs currently stand as 1.5 point favorites. Despite all the talk of San Fran’s top-ranked defense, many national analysts expect a high-scoring affair.

Prediction

• Chiefs 38, 49ers 27

Super Bowl MVP

• Patrick Mahomes