Image Courtesy: The Hollywood Reporter
1.San Francisco 49ers vs. 3.Kansas City Chiefs
February 11, 6:30 PM ET, CBS
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
Super Bowl 58 is just 24 hours away. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (718 passing yards and 4 TDs during 2024 postseason) and tight end Travis Kelce (262 receiving yards and 3 TDs, and the Kansas City Chiefs looked helpless at some points to end the season on offense without much production from his receiving targets but ended up appearing in their seventh consecutive AFC Championship game and their fourth Super Bowl in that span. Outside of Kelce, the only true receiving threat has been rookie Rashee Rice (223 receiving yards and 1 TD). If the passing attack is established, the running game with Isaiah Pacheco (254 rushing yards and 3 TDs) will be huge against a terrific 49ers defense. On the other side, it has been the Chiefs’ defense that has powered them to their success this season, led by linebackers Nick Bolton (27 tackles and 1 TFL) and Drue Tranquill (19 tackles and 1 TFL). The two linebackers will need help from veterans Justin Reid (18 tackles, 2 TFL, and 1 sack) and Chris Jones (4 tackles and 0.5 sack) to rattle second year 49ers signal-caller Brock Purdy (519 passing yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT), 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey (188 rushing yards, 72 receiving yards, and 6 overall TDs), and receiver Deebo Samuel (113 receiving yards and 1 rushing TD). Linebackers Fred Warner (20 tackles and 2 TFL) and Dre Greenlaw (15 tackles and 2 INT), will be huge in stopping Andy Reid’s high flying offense. After having Wild Card weekend off, the 49ers had to use second half comebacks to beat the seven seeded Green Bay Packers (21-17) in the divisional round and the three seeded Detroit Lions (34-31) in the NFC title game to return to their first Super Bowl since February of 2020, when they also faced Kansas City. Kansas City handled the Miami Dolphins (26-7) in the Wild Card round before defeating the Buffalo Bills (27-24) on the road for the third time in the playoffs in the Patrick Mahomes era. They upset the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship, and are now looking for their second Super Bowl win in a row (Defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 57, 38-35). A phenomenal coaching matchup between the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan and the Chiefs’ Andy Reid will come down to the wire. Projected Score: Kansas City Chiefs 27, San Francisco 49ers 24
