The Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers are teams coming off of big wins heading into Sunday's matchup in the Bay Area (CBS, 4:15 p.m. ET).

The 49ers got off to a slow start this season. But they're confident now. Aside from quarterback Jeff Garcia and wide receiver Terrell Owens, they're not spectacular. There are no exceptional players, but they're a well-rounded team with personnel who are not concerned with getting publicity. They just get the job done.

Garcia, who played in the past two Pro Bowls, is the most underrated player in the NFL. Owens started slowly, but he's the NFL's best receiver and now he's playing like it. The Niners realize that the St. Louis Rams are charging, so their focus is winning the NFC West and making sure the Rams don't chase them down.

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off their bye week, which was preceded by a big win over the Oakland Raiders -- so the Chiefs are likewise feeling confident. They believe that if their defense can stop some teams, they not only can make the playoffs but can be a dominant force.

With an improved defense (which held the Raiders to 10 points), the Chiefs can be as explosive as any team in the league. The Chiefs' personnel consists of some of the most humble guys in the league, but don't misinterpret that -- their confidence level is high. Coach Dick Vermeil has done an awesome job bringing this team together, which is apparent given their production on the field.

Five Keys for the Chiefs
1. Play physical with Owens: The Chiefs can't give Terrell Owens, the NFL's best receiver, any space or he will run over them. They must at least make him work for his catches and expend some energy. The Chiefs must get better, more physical play from their secondary or Owens will kill them.

2. Create mismatches for Gonzalez: Motion him out of the backfield, spread him out from tight end to the slot, motion him out wide -- the Chiefs need to do everything they can with him. He is the greatest athlete to ever play tight end -- too physical for a smaller defensive back and too fast for a linebacker. No offense to Kellen Winslow, but Tony Gonzalez is sensational. The Chiefs must use a lot of different formations and not let the defense know where he's lining up.

3. Force turnovers: San Francisco is an explosive team that is starting to roll. On the road, the Chiefs need to create turnovers on defense or special teams. While the Chiefs' offense can score on anybody, their defense hasn't been good, ranked last in the NFL. If the defense can force turnovers, the Chiefs' offense will have more opportunities to score.

4. Their best defense: The Chiefs have given up too many yards and too many big plays. They have to be stout, as they were against the Raiders, who at the time had the NFL's top-ranked offense. If the Chiefs can find a way to produce good back-to-back performances, it would be a big confidence boost for the Chiefs and coordinator Greg Robinson. If so, the Chiefs could have a great second half.

5. Keep Garcia in the pocket: While Garcia is accurate in the pocket, more importantly he loves to break containment, get out and throw on the run, something he does as well as any quarterback in the league. If the Chiefs force him to hold onto the ball longer, disrupt his rhythm and don't allow him to make plays on the run, they have a chance for some turnovers.

Five Keys for the 49ers
1. Start Streets: Another wide receiver has to emerge, and his name is Tai Streets. I don't believe J.J. Stokes will get his starting job back. Streets has taken some pressure off Terrell Owens, who had 12 catches last week. A defense can contain one receiver, but not two or three receivers on a consistent basis. A good quarterback will find them. Now that Streets has started to emerge and is healthy and playing well, that's key for the Niners. They need to keep him involved in the game. He's earned the right to start over Stokes.

2. Free Up Owens: To free up Owens from double and triple coverage, put him in motion and use him in different formations and sets so the Chiefs can't line up and track him easily. If a wide receiver stays stationary, the defense can focus on him and roll coverage to him. But if the Niners put Owens in motion out of the backfield and from the slot, they could create mismatches for him. San Francisco must make sure Owens is not a stationary target. Yes, he's big, physical and awesome -- but you have to keep the Chiefs 'D' guessing.

3. Control the ball: The 49ers need to control the ball and convert on third downs to keep their offense on the field. At one point in the 49ers-Raiders game, the Niners kept the ball for 30 straight snaps. That has to continue, because the Chiefs are more explosive than the Raiders. On defense, the Chiefs are still riding the momentum from their one good game this year -- two weeks ago against Oakland -- so they're confident. You don't want to let them build on that confidence and allow their explosive offense on the field. The 49ers need to wear that defense down and control the clock. The Niners can compete in a shootout, but they don't want to give KC's offense too many chances.

4. Keep running the ball: There's a misconception that the 49ers are strictly a passing team. But they need to pound RBs Kevan Barlow and Garrison Hearst inside and out. They need to control the clock. They can't just throw the ball, because they'll have too many three-and-outs, which will give Kansas City's potent offense more opportunities. The Niners must establish the run, which will allow Garcia and Owens to do their thing more effectively.

5. Don't settle on FGs: The Niners' kicking game lacks confidence right now. Steve Mariucci is sticking with kicker Jose Cortez after his blown chip-shot field goal Sunday -- the Niners still beat the Raiders in OT -- and I commend the coach for that. But this week, the Niners don't want to rely on Cortez (whose confidence must be iffy) to kick three or four field goals in order to top the Chiefs. If this becomes a field-goal game, the Niners could be vulnerable.

Sean Salisbury covers the NFL for ESPN.