If you think you recognize Super Bowl LVIII, there’s no need to check your eyes. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs will square off in the Super Bowl on February 11 in Las Vegas, only four years after they first met in the championship game. In that game on February 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Florida, San Francisco led by 10 points going into the fourth quarter; however, the Chiefs responded with 21 points to win 31–20.
Additionally, Kansas City defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in the previous season’s Super Bowl. With their first victory in Super Bowl IV, which concluded the 1969 season, the club is 3-2 in Super Bowls. The Chiefs’ 17-10 triumph over the Baltimore Ravens on the road on Sunday earned them a spot in this year’s game. They now aim to become the first team since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004 to win the Super Bowl twice. According to quarterback Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City, “the job’s not done just because we’re in the Super Bowl.” “We got to go out there to Vegas and play a great team and see if we can go out there and get the Super Bowl.”
Mahomes, who was named MVP of the Super Bowl twice, will be starting in his fourth Super Bowl. Legendary quarterbacks John Elway (five) and Tom Brady (ten) are the only ones with more starts. Coach Andy Reid of the Chiefs, who is tied for third place with former Dallas Cowboys great Tom Landry, will be coaching in his sixth Super Bowl. Don Shula (six) and Bill Belichick (nine) are the only two coaches with more. During Kyle Shanahan’s coaching career, the 49ers have been attempting to win a title in the interim.
Under Shanahan, San Francisco only made it to the Super Bowl once, in a defeat to the Chiefs. However, the advantage was lost, much like the time Shanahan was offensive coordinator and the Atlanta Falcons blew a 25-point lead for a historic collapse in Super Bowl LI. The 49ers, who finished as the top seed in the NFC this season, defeated the Detroit Lions 34–31 on Sunday to win the conference championship and advance to the Super Bowl. There’s a sentiment that this 49ers team deserves to win the Super Bowl for the sixth time, and for the first time since 1994.
After the victory against the Lions, Shanahan remarked, “There’s been unfinished business for a while.” “For a very long time, our staff has been prepared for this. To get here, it has taken a full year.” With a 14-3 lifetime postseason record, Mahomes is undoubtedly the best quarterback in the game, but the 49ers have witnessed Brock Purdy transform from Mr. Irrelevant as the final choice in the 2022 NFL Draft to one of the most relevant signal-callers in the league. With Purdy (24 years, 46 days) in the lineup, San Francisco will have continuity at quarterback and he will be the third-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl.
The 49ers lost against the Chiefs four years ago, and Jimmy Garoppolo was the starting quarterback. The franchise decided it would be preferable to select Trey Lance with the third overall pick in 2021. Although the choice proved to be a grave mistake, Purdy’s rise to prominence prevented further damage from happening. Both clubs boast elite pass rushers (Chris Jones for the Chiefs, Nick Bosa for the 49ers) and outstanding tight ends (Travis Kelce for the Chiefs, George Kittle for the 49ers). Isiah Pacheco of Kansas City is one of the best running backs in the NFL, and Christian McCaffrey of San Francisco is one of the best all-around backs in the league.
Celebrity fans of both teams are eager to visit the Las Vegas Strip and are prepared to use all of their skills and diversions to evade the throng of photographers. But Taylor Swift is rooting for the Chiefs, the only team among these. But since Kelce’s girlfriend won’t be in Vegas until the night of the game, it won’t become “Swift Week” in the run-up to the big game. The song “You Belong With Me” from Tokyo will be her way of serenading Kelce throughout her four consecutive shows from February 7–10.
