During Super Bowl LVIII Feb. 11, the Kansas City Chiefs will likely secure a win against the San Francisco 49ers. This would be their third league championship win in four years and their fourth overall. They have seen the most success of any NFL team this decade, and their strong defense and quarterback will push them even further.
The Chiefs just hit their stride, having been in the Super Bowl in 2020, 2021, 2023 and now 2024. Previously, the Chiefs spent 50 years between 1970 and 2020 without making it to any Super Bowl, but have made a strong comeback in the past four years.
Responsible for this success is Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ star quarterback who was the MVP in both of their recent Super Bowl wins. His skills have brought him to be ranked as the number one quarterback in the league; this gives the Chiefs a very strong offense and sets them up for strong gameplay in the Super Bowl.
Paired with Mahomes to form something of a dynamic duo is Travis Kelce, who is also the number one tight end in the league. Together, the two make a great case for another Super Bowl win this year; they have essentially brought their team back from an endless losing streak.
These wins are also partially due to Steve Spagnuolo, the defensive coordinator of the Chiefs. He began working with them in 2019, just before their streak of success began. This points to a pattern of wins, starting and continuing with his defense strategy.
This defense has been analyzed by the likes of George Kittle, the 49ers tight end. Kittle said, “They communicate at a very, very high level because they’ve been playing in the same system. A lot of those guys have been there for a while.”
He also mentioned their strength throughout the season, saying, “For them to battle back and finish really strong and then in the playoffs go on the road two times and do exactly what they needed to do, they’re just playing hot right now. They’re very confident.”
Kittle also missed unofficial practice due to a toe injury this week; this does not bode well for the 49ers. If he misses more practice, is out of the game entirely or his movement is deterred, their offensive playing will be affected.
Additionally, the 49ers have not seen a Super Bowl win since the 1994-1995 season, and in their most recent Super Bowl in 2020, they were defeated by the Chiefs. Despite the 49ers maintaining high rankings in the league and performing well this year, their reputation precedes them, as does the Chiefs’.
The coaches of both teams are another indicator; Kyle Shanahan, the coach of the 49ers, brought the Falcons to Super Bowl LI as offensive coordinator and lost a 25-point lead, and in 2020 lost the game to the Chiefs. He has not won a Super Bowl in his career. Meanwhile, Andy Reid, the coach of the Chiefs, will be entering his fifth Super Bowl and potential third win.
Overall, the signs point to a win for the Chiefs; their offense and defense are strong and well-established, and they have pulled off one of the best performances of any NFL team in this decade.
