Quick predictions for the Chiefs vs. 49ers Super Bowl matchup

It’s Super Bowl 58.

Acting on behalf of the AFC? The Chiefs of Kansas City. The Chiefs ran through the gauntlet to get to the Super Bowl in a season where it seemed like they were a step behind the rest of the AFC, so maybe Patrick Mahomes and company are genuinely inevitable. The Chiefs advanced to their second straight Super Bowl by running through Josh Allen and the Bills and Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on the road after defeating the Miami Dolphins, one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses, at home.

They will play the San Francisco 49ers, who rallied from a 24-7 deficit at halftime to defeat the Detroit Lions 34-31 by scoring 27 straight points in the second half. Having advanced to the Super Bowl last season, the 49ers had to forfeit their game against the Philadelphia Eagles due to an elbow injury sustained by Brock Purdy in the NFC Championship.

We will have a full two weeks to study this clash, and we will, in every manner. But for now, these are our current thoughts, along with some quick picks for Super Bowl 58.

Super Bowl predictions Chiefs vs. 49ers

Chiefs 27, 49ers 24

These two organizations met a few years ago in Super Bowl LIV, but there have certainly been some changes and upgrades since then. For example, the 49ers now look to Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey on the offensive side of the ball. However, the Chiefs have made a pretty big upgrade as well, on the defensive side of the ball. That unit will prove huge on Super Bowl

49ers 21, Chiefs 24,
I predict the Chiefs will win this one even though I think we place much too much value on elite quarterback play at the expense of other players’ contributions to the team. This defense, under the excellent coaching of Steve Spagnuolo, is capable of forcing any QB they face into a turnover. Although the 49ers offense has been successful in finding solutions on several occasions this season, quarterback Brock Purdy’s performance in the postseason has been, to put it mildly, inconsistent. You have to play flawlessly against the Chiefs, and I predict that the 49ers will commit a few more errors than the Chiefs.

49ers 17, Chiefs 20,
The Chiefs’ recent transformation is all about defense, and I can’t help but believe that they have what it takes to win this one in a filthy manner. Brock Purdy can be contained if Lamar Jackson can be, and I believe the Kansas City defensive line has a good chance of at least reducing Christian McCaffrey’s influence. This year feels different from last, when I’m not sure I would have predicted the Chiefs to be a filthy team. In the end, Kansas City wins two straight, and we’ll hear once more how no one thought the Chiefs could succeed.