Super Bowl LIV: Position-by-position breakdown

The 2018 NFL MVP, Mahomes wasn't able to match his incredible numbers from last season but still had a terrific year with 26/5 TD/INT and a 78.0 QBR. He's thrown eight touchdowns in two playoff games in his run to the Super Bowl. While San Francisco's Jimmy Garoppolo is having a breakout year, completing 69% of his passes during the regular season with 27 touchdowns, the Chiefs have the clear edge at quarterback.

San Francisco's running back committee has been terrific all year, and the playoffs have been Mostert's coming out party. After rushing for 772 yards during the regular season, he's averaged 6.8 yards per carry with four touchdowns in the Conference Championship. With Tevin Coleman questionable with a shoulder injury, Mostert will likely get a full workload in the Super Bowl. KC's Damien Williams has also been at his best after an injury-plagued regular season, with four touchdowns over the last two games.

Juszczyk is considered the gold standard at fullback in the NFL, making a notable contribution in every facet of the offense and making his fourth Pro Bowl this year. The Chiefs Anthony Sherman is a fine fullback in his own right, but his contribution is more significant on special teams than offense.

Arguably the most explosive wideout in the NFL, Hill had 860 receiving yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season despite playing only 12 games due to injury. He's also scored two touchdowns. Emmanuel Sanders has made a nice late-season impact for San Francisco as their No. 1 wideout, but his impact in the playoffs have been limited.

The high-priced Watkins is making his biggest contribution during the playoffs, with 190 yards and one touchdown in two games. He's an excellent run-after-catch receiver, as well. 49ers rookie Deebo Samuel has been one of the top rookies in the 2019 class with 802 yards receiving during the regular season, and he also has 137 yards from scrimmage in two playoff games.

Hardman made the Pro Bowl as a special teams player, but the speedster has been nearly as valuable as a receiver. He had six receiving scores during the regular season, averaging more than 20 yards per reception. San Francisco's Kendrick Bourne has emerged as a valuable piece during the playoffs after scoring five times during the season, but he's more of a possession receiver.

Kittle and Travis Kelce are arguably the top tight ends in the game. Kelce had his fourth consecutive 1,000 yard season, finishing with 97 catches for 1,229 yards and five touchdowns and adding three more scores during the playoffs. Kittle had 85 catches for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season. While his numbers were slightly less impressive, Kittle accomplished his stats in 14 games and is also perhaps the best blocking tight end in the game. 

Staley has made six Pro Bowls during his 13-year career in San Francisco. Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher is also a solid blindside blocker, as a former No. 1 overall draft choice who made the Pro Bowl in 2018.

Tomlinson has become a stalwart at left guard for the 49ers, now in his third season with the team. Veteran guard Stefen Wisniewski joined the Chiefs at midseason, and has done a serviceable job filling in for the injured Andrew Wylie.

A new addition to the 49ers roster this season, Garland has been a solid injury replacement at center late this season. Chiefs center Austin Reiter has taken over for Mitch Morse, who departed in free agency last offseason, and improved as the season has progressed.

Known as much for his football prowess as his M.D., Duvernay-Tardif has managed to stay healthy at right guard for the Chiefs this season. 49ers journeyman right guard Mike Person has finally found a home in San Francisco after playing in Seattle, Atlanta, and Indy earlier in his career.

Arguably the top right tackle in the game, Schwartz was a first-time All-Pro for the Chiefs in 2018. His counterpart on San Francisco, 2018 first-round pick Mike McGlinchey, continues to develop and could be the 49ers left tackle after Joe Staley retires.

Ford spent his first five seasons in Kansas City, and had a breakout 2018 season for the Chiefs with 13 sacks. However, he left a bitter taste in fans mouths after lining up offsides late in last year's AFC Championship, a call that ultimately prevented KC from making the Super Bowl. He was traded to the 49ers during the offseason and has been as advertised, with 6.5 sacks in 11 regular season games. Tanoh Kpassagnon and veteran Terrell Suggs split time at defensive end for the Chiefs, and have also been a formidable duo.

One of the elite interior pass rushers in the NFL, Jones is set for a huge payday this offseason after accumulating 15.5 sacks last season and nine sacks in 13 games this year. 49ers interior linemen Sheldon Day and former first-round pick Solomon Thomas do a solid job of clogging the middle for San Francisco.

While Chris Jones gets the huge edge at one defensive tackle spot for the Chiefs, Buckner has that same advantage for the 49ers. He had 12 sacks last season and 7.5 sacks in 2019. The Chiefs use an effective interior rotation at defensive tackle between run cloggers Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel, and Khalen Saunders.

The likely Defensive Rookie of the Year, Bosa was everything the 49ers could have hoped for and more this year with nine sacks, 47 tackles, and 25 quarterback hits. He gets an ever-so-slight edge for his regular season performance over KC's Frank Clark, who played the first half of the season with a neck injury. Clark did make the Pro Bowl and has come on strong late in the year, with four sacks in two playoff games. He also had eight sacks and 14 quarterback hits during the regular season.

Wilson has been an outstanding free agent addition for the Chiefs this year, with 81 tackles while also performing well in coverage. The 49ers have received an impressive rookie contribution from fifth-round pick Dre Greenlaw, who had 87 tackles during the regular season and picked up the slack when Kwon Alexander was injured.

Warner has established himself as a tackling machine in only two NFL seasons, with 242 tackles during that time. He also made more big plays this year with a pick six, three forced fumbles, and three sacks. Chiefs 2018 free agent addition Anthony Hitchens hasn't been as productive on the stats sheet as last season, but he's seemed more comfortable in the 4-3 defense.

A huge free agent addition in the offseason from Tampa Bay, Alexander played only eight regular season games but has made a huge contribution during his return in the playoffs. When the Chiefs use three linebackers, responsibilities are split between run stopper Reggie Ragland and the more versatile Ben Niemann.

A likely future Hall of Famer, Sherman made his fifth Pro Bowl this year and continues to play at an extremely high level at age 31. Charvarius Ward has emerged as a breakout defensive player for the Chiefs in his own right this season, but has a ways to go to match Sherman.

The leader of the Chiefs defense, Mathieu has been an outstanding free agent addition as a hybrid playing every role in the secondary for KC. The 49ers are just happy to have his counterpart, Jaquiski Tartt, back after missing most of December due to injury.

Ward has had his fair share of injuries during his six seasons in San Francisco, but he managed to be a great contributor for 13 regular season games this season. The Chiefs continue to lean on Daniel Sorensen following rookie Juan Thornhill's torn ACL, suffered in Week 17. Sorensen has made key plays during the playoffs, but his ability in coverage is limited.

Breeland has been a solid free agent addition for the Chiefs this year, and should be able to get a multi-year contract in free agency this offseason. 49ers No. 2 cornerback Akhello Witherspoon is perhaps the team's biggest liability on defense, and one that Kansas City could try to expose.

Hardman made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner, and has made some huge returns late in the year, including a Week 17 touchdown. Richie James also shows some explosion for San Francisco, but has failed to find the end zone as a returner this year.

Mecole Hardman and Tyreek Hill have split punt return duties during the playoffs for KC, and both are threats to score. Richie James handles punt returns for San Francisco, in addition to kick returns.

Butker is was one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL during the regular season, making nearly 90% of his field goals. He also led the league with 34 field goals made. Robbie Gould has plenty of experience, but made only 74% of his field goals in the regular season.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Colquitt is the longest tenured Chiefs player, now in his 15th season on the team.  Mitch Wishnowsky is in his first NFL season, but had a strong year, averaging 44.9 yards per punt while also handling kickoffs.