Chiefs or Niners? Predicting SBLVIII

This Super Bowl is a rematch of Super Bowl 54, when the same two teams faced off on Feb. 2, 2020

Former Chiefs Wide Receiver Sammy Watkins runs from former 49ers Cornerback Richard Sherman (credit: AP/Steve Luciano)

The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers for the second time in five years in the Super Bowl. Super Bowl 58 will be held this Sunday in Las Vegas on CBS and CBS's subscription streaming service, Paramount Plus.

The 49ers are the two-point favorites heading into the game, compiling a 12-5 record in the regular season, compared to the Chiefs' 11-6. Led by the second-year seventh round pick Brock Purdy and electrifying running back Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers come into the game as the number two-ranked offense in the NFL, behind only the Dolphins in average yds/game. San Francisco's defense is ranked at number eight, allowing only 303.9 yds/game. Meanwhile the Chiefs, led by reigning NFL and Super Bowl LVII MVP are almost exactly flipped, ranked as the number nine offense in the NFL, averaging 351.3 yds/game, while their defense lands at number two.

Both QBs have played extremely well, with the following stats explaining how their years went:

Brock Purdy (SF): 308/444 (69.4 cmp%), 4,280 yds, 31 tds, 11 int

Patrick Mahomes: 401/597 (67.2 cmp%), 4,183 yds, 27 tds, 14 int

This year was an uncommon down year for the Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes-led offense, which can probably be explained by the absence of much WR production outside of Rashee Rice for KC, and the loss of multi-year offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy last offseason. Regardless, the Chiefs find themselves back in the Super Bowl for the second time in as many years.

Brock Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 draft and so-called "Mr. Irrelevant" has been far from that this year, compiling top-five-like QB stats this year and leading San Fransisco to the Super Bowl in his first full season as a starter.

Beyond the QBs though, both these teams' rosters are incredibly talented, the 49ers with the likes of Christian McCaffrey (HB), Deebo Samuel (WR1), Brandon Aiyuk (WR2), Trent Williams (LT), Fred Warner (MLB), Nick Bosa (EDGE), and Charvarious Ward (CB). The Chiefs's roster boasts an equally-stacked lineup, including the aforementioned Mahomes (QB), Travis Kelce (TE), Joe Thuney (LG), Creed Humphrey (C), Chris Jones (DT), Nick Bolton (MLB), L'Jarius Sneed (CB), and Trent McDuffie (CB).

With all that said, it seems all the hype is around the 49ers this year, despite the fact that the two teams have similar stats (as mentioned above), similar records, and roster similar to the ones that faced off five Super Bowls ago. With that said, due to their extensive Super Bowl experience and success, perhaps a little bit of a magic, and a gut feeling, I am predicting that the team I am (perhaps ironically - or perhaps not) rooting for will pull out the win in a close one in Las Vegas. Final Score, Chiefs 34, 49ers 29. Let's get it.