The 100th NFL season ends with Super Bowl LIV between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, a battle between two young star QBs, and two tight ends who showed out this season. Here's how they got here.
The San Francisco 49ers came off a season that was marred with a big injury to Jimmy Garoppolo. With Jimmy back and fully healthy, it was a foregone conclusion that the Niners would be a strong force in the NFC. The Niners steamrolled the competition and finished 13-3, resulting in the #1 seed in the NFC. The team defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the Divisional Playoff, and blasted the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship to reach the Super Bowl for the seventh time in franchise history. SF is 5-1 in Super Bowls, having won SBs XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV, and XXIX, but their one loss came just seven years ago in SB XLVII. They are one of four teams with at least five Super Bowl Championships, with the other three being the Cowboys, Steelers, and Patriots--the latter two having won six each.
The Kansas City Chiefs were determined after falling in last year's AFC Championship to the Patriots in overtime, and their road was not an easy one. Patrick Mahomes actually missed a few games due to injury, but once he was back, KC managed to get back on track, even though they had to come from behind many times. The final week of the season saw the Chiefs clinch a first-round bye with a win and the Dolphins upsetting the Patriots on the road; KC and NE each finished 12-4, but KC had H2H over the Pats. The Divisional Playoff looked like it was going to be yet another disappointment for the Chiefs, as they were down 24-0 against the Houston Texans. However, they outscored Houston 51-7 after that, and the AFC Championship saw them defeat the upstart Tennessee Titans. This is Kansas City's third overall Super Bowl appearance, and their first in 50 years. This is also KC's first SB appearance since the 1970 merger; their previous appearances in I and IV were AFL vs NFL, with the Chiefs winning SB IV.
KC has the edge in QB, but RB goes to the Niners. Kelce (KC) and Kittle (SF) are the two best tight ends in the league, but I'd have to give the edge to Kelce. Both teams boast a good crop of receivers, and the Niners have the Chiefs beat in defense. I predict a high scoring Super Bowl; at least I'm hoping so after last year's game. When the game ends, and the final whistle blows, a certain team will party like it's 1969.
Prediction: Chiefs 38, 49ers 34
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