Top 10 reasons the Kansas City Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl

8. L’Jarius Sneed

When the Chiefs drafted L’Jarius Sneed in the fourth round of the draft last year, I really liked his long-term upside, but figured it might take a year or two before he really came into his own. Boy, was I off on the timing. Not only was Sneed the Chiefs best rookie, you can argue that he should be a legitimate Defensive Rookie of the Year contender and has been one of K.C.’s three best defensive players on the field this postseason. (Sorry Frank Clark, but it’s not close).

Sneed has been strong in coverage both on the outside and in the slot. He’s also a very good tackler for a cornerback, and he’s made numerous plays in the run game all season long. However, it doesn’t stop there. Sneed has also turned into a fantastic weapon blitzing off the edge, and I believe he now has a sack in four straight games. He had to leave the game early with a possible concussion on Sunday, but with the extra week to prepare, let’s hope he’ll be good to go in the Super Bowl.

Brett Veach may have finished a spot behind Sneed in this list, but he definitely deserves credit for picking him. He has quickly become a vital part of this team and should be a key piece of this team for years to come.