Inside Super Bowl LVIII numbers: A rematch with throwback defenses

Using Stathead from Pro Football Reference, Yardbarker shines a spotlight on key names and numbers from the participants of Super Bowl LVIII:

Small ball gets Chiefs to Vegas: Despite all the questions surrounding their offensive struggles in the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs are returning to the Super Bowl thanks to a 17-10 victory at the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game. 

The Chiefs' normally dynamic offense ranked just 15th in points scored this season, their lowest such ranking since a 16th-place finish in 2014. It is also the lowest offensive points ranking for a Super Bowl participant since 2015, when the Denver Broncos (19th) made it to — and won — Super Bowl 50.

Defense wins championships: The unquestionable strength of this Kansas City team has been its defense, which allowed the second-fewest points per game of any team this season (17.3). 

The Chiefs held the Miami Dolphins' second-ranked offense to 21 points in two games, then held Baltimore's fourth-ranked offense to just 10 points in the AFC Championship game. This was the Ravens' lowest point total in a home game that quarterback Lamar Jackson started and finished.

The 2,000-yard man: The San Francisco 49ers advanced to the Super Bowl with a 34-31 NFC Championship game win over the Detroit Lions. The main point of attack on San Francisco's offense is running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey tallied 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns this season, becoming the first 49er with 2,000 scrimmage yards since Frank Gore in 2006 (2,180 yards).

A rare defensive treat: The 49ers ranked third among NFL teams this season by allowing just 17.5 points per game. Keeping Kansas City's second-ranked defense in mind, this is a rare Super Bowl in the era of offense where two of the league's best defenses will be showcased. 

This will be the first Super Bowl in which both teams ranked in the top three of points allowed since Super Bowl XLV in the 2010 season, when each of the NFL's top two defenses met: Pittsburgh (first) and Green Bay (second). Instead of being a defensive struggle, however, the Packers beat the Steelers 31-25.