The rematch four years in the making is finally upon us, as Super Bowl LVIII is less than a week away. Every year, the big game is determined by a few key plays, often influenced by important positional matchups. This article will evaluate three pivotal matchups that will likely dictate who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy this Sunday.  

After a distraction-filled, statistically down year for the four-time All-Pro, Travis Kelce has come alive in the playoffs. In the three games this postseason, Kelce has racked up 23 receptions, 226 yards, and 3 touchdowns. His 19th catch, which came in his signature performance against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship, put the future Hall of Famer in the record books for the most receptions in postseason history, surpassing the 151 mark set by Jerry Rice. 

Containing Kelce will be the biggest key to the 49er's success defensively. Outside the 11-year pro, the Chiefs' receiving corps is minimal, with rookie Rayshee Rice being the only standout of the unit. With that being said, the 49ers have struggled against tight ends as of late, allowing 9 catches and 97 yards to the Lions’ promising rookie Sam LaPorta in the NFC Championship. 

It will be intriguing to see how the 49ers chose to approach Kelce from a coverage standpoint. Against the Lions, the 49ers utilized a heavy zone approach early, which was one of the biggest reasons why they found themselves trailing by 21 early. Making the adjustment to more man coverage in the second half, the 49ers’ defense was considerably better at containing LaPorta and the rest of the Lions’ weapons. 

Taking into consideration both the 49ers' clear strengths in terms of defending tight ends and the success that Kelce has had over the years against zone coverage, it is more than likely that the 49ers will utilize man coverage. In terms of who will guard the two-time Super Bowl Champion, the two most likely candidates are 3-time All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner and safety Ji’Ayir Brown, who have both taken that responsibility as of late.  

There isn’t a player in the NFL who can fit the Kyle Shanahan scheme better than the likes of Deebo Samuel. Known for his dual-threat ability as a receiver and rusher, Samuel is a vital part of this 49ers’ offense. This was on full display when the 49ers’ offensive struggled mightly after he was knocked out of the NFC Divisional Round against the Packers. Although the 49ers’ have plenty of other offensive threats, Samuel’s skill set allows Shanahan to run his offense; predicated on pre-snap movement, an outside zone run scheme, and crossing routes, to its fullest extent. 

The Kansas City Chiefs defense has been one of the best in the league all season. One of their biggest strengths has been their underrated cornerback room, which has allowed them to send pressure and rely on their corners to play lockdown man coverage. Named 1st team All-Pro in just his second season, Trent McDuffie has been Kansas City’s best of the bunch and will have one of the toughest tests of his young career against Samuel. 

Steve Spagnolo’s blitz-heavy scheme will be a prevalent part of Kansas City’s gameplan to contain the likes of the Pro Football Writers of America’s (PFWA) 2023 Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffery and force quarterback Brock Purdy to make quick decisions. This will leave it up to McDuffie and the rest of the corners to step up in coverage and make tackles against some of the best-skill players after the catch in the league.

Coming off of a dominant 2022 campaign that featured a league leading 18.5 sacks en route to being named Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa has continued to look brilliant off the edge despite a dip statistically this season; which can be attributed to the 49ers acquisition of other pass rushers such as Randy Gregory and Chase Young. Regardless, none pose as much of a threat as the four-time Pro Bowler, who recorded two crucial sacks in the NFC Championship game. 

Inking a four-year, $80 million deal this past offseason be Mahomes’ right tackle, Jawaan Taylor, has not lived up to expectations as the second highest-paid right tackle in football. The problem arose early this season when it came to penalties, as he led the league with 10 accepted penalties through the first seven weeks of the season. It has been holding calls that have been the demise of the five-year pro, currently tied for second with 7 on the season; only trailing his fellow teammate in right guard Trey Smith (8). His ability as a pass blocker has been on par, ranking in the top 15 in win rate, but has struggled in the run game, ranking as one of the worst in football in terms of win rate. 

Bosa, who primarily rushes off of the left edge, will face Taylor often this upcoming Sunday. The Chiefs have done a phenomenal job at limiting Bosa’s effectiveness in the past, with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 Draft only having 9 tackles and one sack in the two games these teams have played over the last four years. Whether Taylor can replicate this success come Sunday is a different story and one that could determine the outcome of Super Bowl LVIII.