The upcoming matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs has been billed as a highly-anticipated contest between two of the top teams in the league, but scratch beneath the surface and it’s clear there’s more at play here than just a simple game. This, in many ways, is a referendum on the ‘right’ way to build and maintain a successful NFL franchise.
It’s the ideological battle of the NFL’s version of Silicon Valley versus an old-school, meat-and-potatoes approach, pitting the forward-thinking, innovative Chiefs against the more traditional, fundamental 49ers. The contrast in styles and on-field philosophies will be stark, with the Chiefs’ explosion of explosive plays, fueled by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, meeting the 49ers’ more methodical approach, built around the suffocating defense and quarterback Brock Purdy’s efficiency.
The 49ers, led by head coach Kyle Shanahan, are what many consider to be the franchise that most embodies the old-school, rugged principles that have come to define the league. Their strong running game, and stingy defense first approach are what many consider to be the hallmark of great football. Every year it seems like they are in contention and are contenders for the NFC West divisional title and beyond.
On the other hand, you have the Kansas City Chiefs. Their version of success, spearheaded by head coach Andy Reid and led by one of the most dynamic athletes in the sport, appears almost revolutionary in comparison. The Chiefs’ commitment to speed and scoring is unmatched in today’s NFL. With Mahomes pulling the trigger, they’ve got what many in the league think is the fastest, and most explosive offense in the league.
The question that this game may answer for us is will it be the teams that can spread you out and beat you with finesse and high-powered offense, or the teams that pound the ball on the ground, and can stop you on the other side of the ball. Either way, on Sunday, we’re in for a treat as the NFL’s great ideological divide takes the field.