The Kansas City Chiefs entered the season as favourites to win the Super Bowl, yet faced a rocky start despite being the reigning champions.
With Patrick Mahomes leading, they encountered difficulties but narrowly defeated the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round with strong second-half defence and crucial plays.
Their next challenge is the formidable San Francisco 49ers, who boasted a 12-5 regular-season record and edged out tough playoff victories against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions by narrow three-point margins.
The question now is, will the 49ers widen the gap at Super Bowl LVIII or will the Chiefs extend their impressive playoff journey and claim another Vince Lombardi trophy?
We’ve previewed Super Bowl LVIII and picked out some betting tips based on the latest NFL odds.
Make the most of your Super Bowl experience and pocket a £5 Free Bet when you place a £5 Bet Builder (min. odds 2/1) on the Chiefs vs 49ers.
Super Bowl LVIII: 49ers vs Chiefs Matchup
The 49ers, with the second most potent offence in the league, averaged nearly 29 points per game and overcame a 17-point deficit to win the NFC Championship against Detroit 34-31.
49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 267 yards, including a touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk, while Christian McCaffrey rushed for 90 yards and scored twice. Deebo Samuel also made significant contributions with 89 receiving yards.
The Chiefs, aiming for their third Super Bowl win in five years, have dominated the AFC West with eight straight titles.
Their defence, ranking second overall, allowed an NFL-best 17.3 points per game.
In the AFC Championship, they held Baltimore to three points in the latter three quarters for a 17-10 win, with Patrick Mahomes connecting with Travis Kelce for a touchdown and Isaiah Pacheco adding a running score. Kelce led with 116 receiving yards.
Super Bowl LVIII: 49ers vs Chiefs Prediction
Heading into Super Bowl LVIII, the Chiefs are riding a five-game win streak, covering the final two regular-season games and three playoff victories, with significant away wins against Buffalo and Baltimore, the top seeds in the AFC.
After a Christmas loss to Las Vegas — their fourth in six games — many doubted Kansas City’s potential. However, recent performances have reaffirmed the resilience of an Andy Reid-led team with Patrick Mahomes at the helm.
Kansas City showcased formidable defence in their 17-10 victory over the Ravens, a team known for overpowering various playoff contenders, including the 49ers, during the regular season.
The Chiefs’ defence forced three turnovers against the Ravens, crucially, two red-zone interceptions in the fourth quarter.
This is the staunch defence the 49ers will face, coming off a narrow 34-31 home win against Detroit, which could just prove to be the difference.
Best NFL Bets for 49ers vs Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs +2 @ 1.93
Mahomes’ impressive postseason achievements aside, Kansas City’s defence has been crucial in their playoff trajectory, leading with four takeaways and limiting opponents to 10 points or less in two of their three postseason matches.
This defensive prowess will be vital against the 49ers, known for their array of skilled playmakers and ranking third in the NFL with an average of 28.9 points per game during the regular season—a momentum they’ve maintained with 58 points in their first two playoff games.
Facing the Chiefs, Brock Purdy, who has secured comeback victories against weaker NFC defences, will encounter a sterner challenge.
The outcome of Super Bowl 58 is likely to hinge on a pivotal defensive play, and Kansas City’s defence seems poised to make that decisive impact.
Over 47 Points @ 1.86
In the AFC playoffs, Kansas City scored an average of 23.3 points across three games, surpassing 26 points twice. San Francisco, having conceded 52 points in two NFC playoff games, may find the Chiefs pushing the score past the Over.
The Chiefs’ secondary, while strong, could be circumvented by the 49ers through targeted passes to Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, presenting a strategy Baltimore might have overlooked.
On offence, Kansas City might rely on Isiah Pacheco, drawing from Aaron Jones’ 108-yard performance against the 49ers and Detroit’s three rushing touchdowns in the NFC Championship.
With Sam LaPorta’s recent success against San Francisco, Travis Kelce could be key in Kansas City’s attack. Following a win, San Francisco often surpasses the Over.
And despite two of Kansas City’s AFC playoff games falling below the Super Bowl LVIII total, those were against a weaker Baltimore and a weather-affected Miami, suggesting a potentially higher-scoring final.
*Odds subject to change.
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