The special time of the year has finally arrived! After a whole season of games and a month of playoff contests, the big game of the year is on the horizon. The Chiefs and the 49ers once again meet in the finale and we will be breaking down all the need to know about the game. The event’s 58th occurrence is something for everyone to look forward to and there is plenty to discuss regarding what is to come.

The History

NFL fans may recall Super Bowl 54 in which this exact same matchup occurred, resulting in a 31-20 victory for Kansas City. The Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, mustered a fourth quarter comeback, scoring 21 unanswered points in the last 6 minutes of the game; however, being that this was 4 years prior, what all has changed? Will this year’s game yield the same outcome? Well, it turns out that the Chief’s roster has aged, leading to a decrease in output from previous years. They no longer have Tyreek Hill, both Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have produced lower than average season stats, and the team has not seen any major upgrades on the defensive side. Regarding the 49ers, the team is now led by the so-called “Mr. Irrelevant” (the final pick of the 2022 NFL draft) Brock Purdy. The 49ers also picked up top NFL running back Christian McCaffery, increasing their offensive output to an elite level, far surpassing that of the team’s 2020 Super Bowl run. As a result of these changes, the 49ers are the favorites, currently having a 60% chance of victory by an average of 2 points according to ESPN analytics. (49ers vs Chiefs, 2024) No matter who wins, it is looking to be a close matchup.

Unforeseen Factors

Super Bowl 58 will take place for the first time in the Raider’s Las Vegas stadium. Given the environment, sports betting is expected to reach an all-time high along with in-person ticket prices going for insane premiums, with seats being sold for as low as around $7,000 to as high as over $20,000. (Super Bowl LVIII Tickets) Regarding the free cable broadcast for us watching at home, expect to tune in to CBS at 5:30pm CST. Some potential problems may include the current forecasted rain on the 11th in Texas cities such as Dallas and Houston. Also, it is important to keep in mind some stats regarding player performance may be influenced by the sheer magnitude of the event. Las Vegas is closer in proximity to San Francisco which may result in more 49ers fans in the crowd, even though I am sure that Chiefs fans will also show up in the masses to support their team at this pivotal moment of the season. In addition, given that Travis Kelce’s game performance has interestingly been increased in the presence of Taylor Swift, if she is able to make it to the game, this may end up playing a factor given Travis Kelce’s integral position and responsibilities in the Chief’s offense. Overall, there is no way to tell the future and many will have to watch the game live to see how it all eventually turns out.

The Halftime Show

The moment we’ve all been waiting for: an annual musical extravaganza at the halftime mark! The main act of Super Bowl 2024 will be…drumroll please…Usher. Yeah! (sorry, had to include that). Many people are wondering what might be the possible plans for the famous halftime show in 2024. There are many theories as to what will be the setlist of the show, as many Usher fans are hoping for him to perform his older hits, while others believe he will perform songs from his upcoming album that is set to be released just days before the Super Bowl. There are also speculations of Taylor Swift possibly showing up to the game and even performing at the show, a theory developed by fans given that she has shown up for her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s previous games. (Newsweek) Who knows, this theory might be true! Either way, it’s going to be an interesting Super Bowl Halftime show, with amazing artists (some who possibly may be coming, but not absolutely confirmed) and celebrities joining the scene.

iUP Students’ Predictions

When asked for the opinions of iUP students, the results also seem to be divided. Despite a slight majority opting for a 49ers victory, others believe that the Chiefs have a better chance of winning even if they support the 49ers. Associate Editor Curtis Bamber gave a more impartial take, stating that even though the 49ers may be the people’s favorite, Patrick Mahomes’s capabilities in high-stress playoff scenarios is unmatched in this modern era of football and will be hard for teams such as the 49ers to combat. Students also mention the fact that the Ravens blew out the 49ers in their regular season matchup and later lost to the Chief’s in the division round. Though this method of indirect comparison may not always be reliable, it does provide a benchmark that could determine the teams’ performances come the 11th. Others, including staple sports writer Connor Reinscheld, mentioned the back-to-back Super Bowl curse that has not been realized for the past 20 years. Given that the Chiefs were also the victors of Super Bowl 57, this may also be something to consider as the big day nears. Overall, as one iUP student states, “both teams are fully capable of winning the Super Bowl ” so it may come down to which team will be able to put out the better performance when the time comes.

Touchdown

So, as the 58th Super Bowl rolls around into the scene of the eventful month of February, we hope this article informed you of the exclusive predictions and details you clicked this article for! Regardless of who you are rooting for, this year’s Super Bowl is sure to live up to the hype generated over the past months and will certainly be one to remember.

Works Cited

ESPN Internet Ventures. (n.d.). 49ers vs. chiefs (Feb 11, 2024) live score. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401547378 

Sport, P. (2024, February 1). Super Bowl LVIII tickets on 02/11/24 at Allegiant Stadium. Super Bowl LVIII Tickets on 02/11/24 at Allegiant Stadium. https://onlocationexp.com/e/sports/super-bowl-lviii-tickets/allegiant-stadium/february-11-2024-1001538842

Culture, S. P. P., & Reporter, E. (2024, January 31). Will Taylor Swift appear in Super Bowl halftime show? Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/taylor-swift-super-bowl-perform-usher-japan-1865689