We have arrived. Only one victory stands between each team’s bid at eternal glory as NFL Champions. Without further gilding the lily and with no more ado, we present to you the most exciting storylines and matchups ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.
SUPER BOWL LVIII: STORYLINES TO WATCH
Chiefs Aiming to Repeat
The Chiefs are looking to solidify their dynasty with a repeat Super Bowl victory, becoming the first team in 19 seasons to win back-to-back titles. A win against the 49ers would also mark the Chiefs' third Super Bowl title in five years and their fourth in franchise history.
From Irrelevance to Irreplaceable
Brock Purdy orchestrated an MVP-calibre season (to the dismay of many) while leading the 49ers to an NFC-leading 12-5 record in the regular season. Purdy has climbed his way from the depth of the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to an irreplaceable franchise signal-caller for the 49ers, leading them to back-to-back playoff berths and his first Super Bowl all before turning 25 years old.
Four Year Cycle
The Chiefs and the 49ers met four years ago to the day in Super Bowl LV where Mahomes and company overcame a 10-point deficit with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, leading the Chiefs to a 31-20 victory. Mahomes enters the game with a perfect 3-0 record against the franchise, defeating the 49ers 38-27 and 44-23 since last topping them in the Super Bowl.
Chiefs Defense Turned Overnight Juggernaut
The Chiefs defense has been the surprise hero of their 2023/2024 campaign. There were often times throughout the season when the previously unstoppable duo of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce appeared to be nothing more than a pedestrian combo. Luckily, the Chiefs' defense quickly evolved into supporting their teammates, allowing just 17.3 points per game during the regular season and an even more impressive 13.7 points per game in the postseason. They easily dispatched Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, and MVP-candidate Lamar Jackson en route to the Super Bowl bid and will look to flip the underdog narrative on Brock Purdy and company come Sunday.
49ers Chasing Elusive Legacy
The 49ers are making their eighth Super Bowl appearance, tying them for second most of any franchise in NFL History while chasing a record-tying sixth NFL Championship. Their 38 playoff wins currently sit first amongst all franchises but their two previous trips in the 2019 and 2012 seasons ended in heartbreak. Kyle Shanahan boasts an 8-3 playoff record, tied for the second-best winning percentage of any coach with at least 10 playoff games under their belt. Brock Purdy’s four playoff victories are just one game shy of Ben Roethlisberger's record of most playoff wins by any quarterback in their first two seasons of play.
Love Is In The Air
Whether you enjoy the fairytale storylines of love or inexplicably hate the happiness of others, the romance between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift is an undeniably massive narrative for the media to attach themselves to. Although the game itself should be the primary focus, expect to see a hefty helping of the happy couple plastered over your T.V. screens throughout the week.
Dueling Quarterbacks
At first glance, the matchup between Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy does not hold up to the previous Super Bowl quarterback duels of the past. A closer look reveals a highly overlooked narrative – Purdy had the better season. The 49ers quarterback completed 308 of 444 pass attempts for 4280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions, finishing with a 113.0 QBR and a spot amongst the shortlist of MVP Candidates. Mahomes, on the other hand, regressed in a new offense, completing 401 of 597 pass attempts with 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and a QBR of 92.6. It is impossible to undersell the help that Purdy received from All-Pro pass-catchers such as George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Christian McCaffrey. It is also undeniable that the two quarterbacks in question are amongst the most effective signal-callers in the NFL today, despite the backhanded narratives surrounding Purdy’s talents.
Like Father Like Son
Kyle Shanahan has already etched himself in the great pantheon of NFL coaches with his incredibly crafty offensive play-calling and high standard of winning culture. The 49ers skipper will look to finally overcome the Super Bowl hump, joining his father Mike Shanahan as the only father-son tandem to each win Super Bowls as head coach.
Christian McCaffrey will also be attempting to join a family legacy set before him, joining his father Ed McCaffrey (49ers - 1994) as just the second father-son duo to claim NFL Championship rings for the same franchise.
The Final Accolade
Trent Williams has long been regarded as a true generational talent at the offensive tackle position, a one-of-a-kind athlete with a rare combination of size and speed, and a no-doubt Hall of Fame player. Despite all of that, one accolade eludes Williams' impressive resume as the perennial All-Pro player has yet to even play in a Super Bowl, let alone win a ring. Williams could establish himself amongst the greatest offensive linemen to ever play the game if he can help propel his teammates to glory.
SUPER BOWL LVIII: MATCHUP BREAKDOWN
1 San Francisco 49ers (14-5) @ 3 Kansas City Chiefs (14-6)
Location: Las Vegas
Home Team: Chiefs
Over/Under: 47.5 Points
Betting Favorite: 49ers - 1.5 Points
Keys To Victory:
San Francisco 49ers
Mayhem in the Middle. Do Not Let Mahomes and Kelce Throw Centerfield.
Keep McCaffrey Moving. Let your MVP be the MVP.
YAC-ity YAC. Don’t Look Back. Short and Sweet Completions on Offense.
Short Drives on Defense. Keep the Chiefs Offense off the Field.
Purdy in the Pocket. Imperative to Slow down Chiefs Pass Rush.
Kansas City Chiefs
Keep Bosa out of the Backfield. Clean Pockets.
Stuff the Run. Shut McCaffrey Down and Force Purdy to Throw.
Make Purdy Work Deep. Take away Short/Intermediate Routes.
Pressure Mr. Irrelevant. Relentless Blitzing. Make Purdy Feel the Weight of the Moment.
Defense Wins Championships. Let the Dynasty Find a New Identity.
Injury Reports:
San Francisco 49ers Injury Report
Kansas City Chiefs Injury Report
Matchup Breakdown:
The last time these two teams met the Chiefs topped the 49ers with a resounding 44-23 victory during the 2022/2023 season. Since that loss, the 49ers have propelled themselves to yet another winning season after finishing 2nd overall in total offense, 3rd overall in rushing yards, 4th overall in passing yards, and 3rd overall in offensive scoring. On the opposite side of the ball, a Nick Bosa-led defense ranked 8th overall in scrimmage yards allowed, 3rd in rushing yards, 14th in passing yards, and 3rd in points per game.
The emphatic breakout of Brock Purdy has positioned the 49ers in an elongated window of winning, as the 49ers star is the third-youngest quarterback to ever start in a Super Bowl. Purdy helped lead the 49ers to two consecutive comeback performances in the divisional round against the Packers and the Lions in the NFC Championship, throwing for a combined 519 yards and two touchdowns with one interception during the playoffs.
Christian McCaffrey has continued his MVP-esque run throughout the 49ers' two playoff appearances, combining for four rushing touchdowns, 188 rushing yards, and adding 11 receptions for 72 yards through the air. The 49ers must break through the Chiefs' stout run defense with McCaffrey leading the charge as an unstoppable offensive weapon.
Nick Bosa has long been the cornerstone of one of the NFL’s most fearsome defensive units but will have his hands full against the Chiefs' offensive tackles while trying to create solo pressure as additional linebackers drop back into coverage to double Travis Kelce. Bosa enters the game fresh off a two-sack outing against the Lions, giving him the franchise record for 10 sacks in postseason play. Fortunately for Bosa and company the Chiefs' offensive line has been one of the most penalty-prone fronts in the entire league this season with a league-leading 36 holding calls, eight of which have come from RT Jawaan Taylor – who is expected to line up across Bosa for most of the contest. Furthermore, Chiefs All-Pro LG Joe Thuney is unlikely to play after sustaining a chest injury in the divisional round against the Bills, opening up even more holes for an already mediocre offensive line.
The Chiefs will be attempting to silence all the above-mentioned narratives with a Dynasty-defining victory over a team that Patrick Mahomes has yet to lose to in his career. They enter the game after a rollercoaster regular season led them to an 11-6 record that saw them lose three of their last five regular season matchups. The Chiefs' offensive averages dipped alongside their regression in wins, ranking 9th overall in scrimmage yards, 19th in rushing yards, 6th in passing yards, and 15th in points scored per game. The defense stepped up in ways previously unseen, ranking 2nd in scrimmage yards allowed, 18th in rushing yards, 4th in passing yards, and 2nd in offensive points per game.
Mahomes sacrificed his usually otherworldly season-long stat line to better fit within the growing defensive dominance in the Chiefs locker room. Once the playoffs hit, the star signal-caller retroceded into his earth-shattering ways, throwing for 528 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions in his three playoff starts. Mahomes can further cement an already Hall-of-Fame legacy with his third Super Bowl victory and third Super Bowl MVP which would just so happen to put him 3rd all-time for playoff wins in just his first six seasons as a starter.
Playing mistake-free football in both the turnovers and penalties department will be imperative for the Chiefs if they hope to top the number-one-seeded 49ers. A clean pocket for Mahomes coupled with long penalty-free drives is a recipe that no team has been able to overcome during the young star's tenure in the NFL.
Travis Kelce now holds the NFL record for most receptions in postseason history, lifting his numbers to 159 playoff catches after the AFC Championship game. His 1890 yards and 19 touchdowns trail only Jerry Rice for the most all-time. Kelce has also tallied 257 receiving yards in the Super Bowl during his career, needing a mere 67 yards to move into the top five and a very obtainable 108 yards to set a new NFL record. Newly found star rookie receiver Rashee Rice is just 20 yards away from surpassing Torry Holt (242) for second all-time on the receiving yards record for year-one players. Rice has quickly developed into a lethal option alongside Kelce as opposed to a secondary relief pass-catcher that many had pegged him as during the season.
The Chiefs are just one of seven franchises in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl in back-to-back campaigns. They are surprising 1.5-point underdogs after dominating the Dolphins, Bills, and Ravens by a point differential of 70-41 whilst the 49ers seemingly struggled to scrape by the Packers and Lions with a much closer margin of 58-52 despite being heavily favored in both matchups. Although both teams are representing the best of their conferences, it appears as if one side is just meeting their stride while the other is losing momentum.
Much respect, thank you for reading. If you have any continued thoughts and would like to share, I am always available for an open conversation on Twitter: @PsychWardFF or Instagram: @psychwardff.
You can find my other works as the Lead Writer and DOC at Broto Fantasy Football.
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By Matt Ward
For a second straight season, I am betting against Mahomes.