Super Bowl X-Factors: How many predictions did we get right?

Super Bowl LVIII was one of the most exciting culminations of an NFL season in recent memory. While we're sad the NFL season is over, we can look back at the players and coaches we thought would be X-factors during the big game. We'll see how many we hit, and how many we were way off on.

As has been well documented, Shanahan has matched wits against Kansas City head coach Andy Reid once before in a Super Bowl, four years ago. In that contest, the 49ers got off to a great start, but were unable to make enough plays to hold on to the lead.

With that said, it’s going to be fascinating to see whether Shanahan lets Brock Purdy win the game, or manage it on Sunday. The game plan might change as the game progresses.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Shanahan's offensive approach certainly factored into the outcome of the game. He let Purdy and his offense go for it on a critical fourth down where he could have tied the game. Shanahan also let Purdy air it out as the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter approached.

It was a transaction that may have gone unnoticed, but the Chiefs have activated McKinnon off of injured reserve. He’s been out of the lineup since December 24 with a groin injury, but could reclaim an important pass catching role in Kansas City’s offense.

According to Chiefs Wire, Patrick Mahomes has excelled in the screen game since 2018, which McKinnon would be a part of to slow down San Francisco's aggressive pass rush.

McKinnon actually caught a pass on Kansas City's first drive of the game, but wasn't much of a factor throughout the course of the contest. Perhaps the Chiefs were mindful of overloading McKinnon in his first game back from injury.

It’s been a tumultuous couple of weeks for Toney, who has seemingly been in the Chiefs’ doghouse. The team did not activate him for the AFC Championship game due to what they called an injury, but Toney took to social media to let the world know he wasn’t hurt.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

We’ll see if Toney is up on gameday, but fans will remember he made a huge play on special teams in last year’s Super Bowl. He also caught a short pass for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl last year, as well.

Ultimately, the Chiefs decided that they could win Super Bowl LVIII without Toney's services, and they were right. A return to the team isn't looking promising considering the tension between the player and the team.

Chiefs fans will remember the fond outcome of their Super Bowl matchup with San Francisco four years ago, but will also recall how much Tyreek Hill stepped up for them in that game. Hill is no longer with the team, so Valdes-Scantling is going to be the main deep threat for the Chiefs this Sunday.

He’s had a strong playoff performance this year, as the Athletic and others have noticed. The drops that plagued Valdes-Scantling during the regular season seem to have vanished when it has mattered most.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Valdes-Scantling didn't quite make an impact down the field, but he did catch a touchdown pass that swung the momentum of the game. San Francisco had just muffed a punt, and the wide receiver caught a wide open scoring pass from Patrick Mahomes on the very next play.

San Francisco was able to complete an impressive second half comeback against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game, but their defensive line got pushed around in the first half. The 49ers conceded 148 rushing yards to the Lions in the first 30 minutes last week, making Armstead a key in the middle of a defensive line that needs to get push at the line of scrimmage from the outset.

The Chiefs have leaned on running back Isiah Pacheco down the stretch, which makes Armstead's production that much more important.

Armstead recorded a sack in Super Bowl LVIII, and was constantly referred to as the glue of the 49ers defense during the broadcast.

The 49ers won’t get much sleep preparing for Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has been a problem for every Kansas City opponent. They may deploy constant double teams throughout the Super Bowl, which should leave Karlaftis with one on one matchups on the perimeter.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Karlaftis forced a huge fumble against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, and could make a game-changing play in the Super Bowl as well.

Karlaftis' statline as a pass rusher and tackler were modest, but he was "George on the spot" as he dove on a Christian McCaffery fumble in the first quarter that stalled a positive 49ers drive. He also added half a sack.

It’s common for NFL teams to pick on defenses’ weakest secondary players, and there’s a chance that Kansas City targets Thomas early and often on Sunday. He’s been up and down this postseason, which could make him a focal point of Patrick Mahomes’ attention. It’ll be interesting to see whether San Francisco uses Thomas in the slot or on the outside.

Thomas was nursing an injury heading into the Super Bowl, but he didn't factor into San Francisco's defensive plans at all on Sunday.

It hasn’t really changed Kyle Shanahan’s thinking on offense this postseason, but Moody has been a bit shaky in the playoffs. He’s missed a kick in each of the last two weeks, but it doesn’t seem like the 49ers are going to be more aggressive on fourth down in field goal range. Whether Moody can convert all of his opportunities will be a crucial aspect to monitor.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Moody's performance was an important part of the game. He had an extra point blocked that kept San Francisco's lead at three down the stretch. On the positive side, he drilled two field goals from over 50 yards, including a 53 yarder that gave the 49ers the lead with under two minutes left.

The potential Chris Jones has to wreck the Super Bowl for the 49ers has previously been established, and Brendel will have the fortune of staring him in the face at the line of scrimmage. He probably won’t be alone in dealing with the All-Pro, but Brendel will at least need to hold his own long enough for help to arrive.

Chris Jones had a muted impact on the stat sheet, which Brendel does deserve credit for. However, Brendel and the offensive line weren't exactly road graders in the run game on Sunday, so this pick turned out to be pretty neutral after all.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!