How the Kansas City Chiefs stack up against the 49ers biggest weapon, it’s the toughest test yet

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The Kansas City Chiefs‘ defense has stepped it up all season, but their biggest challenge awaits on Sunday.

Christian McCaffrey has been a nightmare for opposing defenses to contain on the ground and through the air.

Keeping him in check may be the toughest assignment that Steve Spagnuolo‘s defense will face all season, and fittingly, it’ll be on the biggest stage.

What are Christian McCaffrey’s stats this season?

McCaffrey led the NFL in rushing during the regular season, racking up 1,459 yards on 272 attempts.

He set career single-season highs for rushing yards, average yards-per-carry (5.4) and first downs (83).

In the postseason, he’s been equally sharp, averaging 5.1 yards per carry with 188 yards rushing on 37 carries and four rushing scores in two games.

However, McCaffrey is more than just a threat out of the backfield, with seven touchdown catches during the regular season.

He had 564 receiving yards on 67 catches, averaging 8.4 yards per catch.

In the playoffs, he has 11 receptions for 72 yards but no touchdowns.

The MVP and Offensive Player of the Year finalist had 90 yards rushing on 20 carries in the NFC Championship Game, with two rushing scores.

He also caught four passes for 42 yards.

How have the Niners fared when McCaffrey is hot?

If McCaffrey is having a good day running the ball, chances are the Niners will win.

When the 27-year-old rushes for at least 75 yards, they are 12-1, counting the postseason.

The only time when he hit or exceeded that mark and they lost was on Christmas Day against the Baltimore Ravens (33-19).

Meanwhile, San Fran has won just twice this season when McCaffrey has rushed for fewer than 75 yards in a game, with those victories coming against the Dallas Cowboys (42-10) and Washington Commanders (27-10).

Kyle Shanahan doesn’t abandon the running game so quickly either, with San Fran eighth in rushing attempts this season and 32nd in pass attempts.

How good is the Chiefs defense against the run?

Stopping the run has been an Achilles heel of the Chiefs defense this season.

In 2023, they gave up an average of 4.5 yards per carry.

Drue Tranquill and Nick Bolton will have their hands full trying to keep McCaffrey in check, but allowing big games on the ground is not necessarily a death sentence for these Chiefs.

Kansas City is 7-0 this season when allowing fewer than 110 yards to opposing running backs.

In the AFC Divisional Round, the Bills rushed for 182 yards, 72 from Josh Allen and Kansas City still came out on top.

What can the Chiefs counter with?

McCaffrey is undoubtedly a handful, but the Chiefs have a pretty effective runner, too.

Isiah Pacheco leads the playoffs in rushing with 254 yards on 63 attempts with three touchdowns, a 4.0-yard average.

Three of San Francisco’s five losses this season have come when the opposition outrushed them.

So, a steady diet of consistency from Pacheco and a few scrambles from Patrick Mahomes might be enough for KC to come out on top.