What the KC Chiefs must do in order to win Super Bowl LVII

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 21: Marquez Valdes-Scantling #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Creed Humphrey #52 after scoring a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 21, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 21: Marquez Valdes-Scantling #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Creed Humphrey #52 after scoring a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 21, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 21: JuJu Smith-Schuster #9 of the Kansas City Chiefs plays the field against the Jacksonville Jaguars at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 21, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 21: JuJu Smith-Schuster #9 of the Kansas City Chiefs plays the field against the Jacksonville Jaguars at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 21, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

3. The wide receivers need to win against man coverage

It’s no secret that the Chiefs’ pass catchers have had injury problems as of late. Travis Kelce had a back injury pop up last minute prior to the AFC Championship Game, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kadarius Toney left the game against the Bengals with lower body injuries, plus Mecole Hardman was placed back on injured reserve because he reaggravated his pelvic injury.

I don’t expect Smith-Schuster and Toney to be near 100%, which could be the Achilles’ heel for the offense (no pun intended). The Eagles do play a lot of zone coverage, which will help the Chiefs immensely, but if/when they do play man-to-man coverage, the pass catchers need to get open fast enough for Patrick Mahomes to get the ball out before the vaunted Philadelphia pass rush is able to hit him. I don’t have much concern about Travis Kelce but the ailing wide receiver room needs to play a solid game or else the Chiefs may struggle to move the ball.

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