Super Bowl LVIII will kick off in Las Vegas, Nevada on Feb. 11 at 4:30 p.m. MT. This year, the Kansas City Chiefs will be representing the American Football Conference [AFC], and the National Football Conference [NFC] will be displayed by the San Francisco 49ers. 

This is a familiar matchup as both those teams met in Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs coming out on top 31-20. However, the two powerhouses have made significant changes since then.

“The Chiefs are still really good,” sophomore NFL fan Ryan Barrus said. “They have been for the past six years. I do think the 49ers are a better team than they were four years ago.”

One step the 49ers took towards success was drafting quarterback Brock Purdy with the very last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, deeming him as Mr. Irrelevant. After countless injuries at the QB position, Purdy took the spot and never looked back. He led the team to a 17-4 record as a starter.

The Chiefs have two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes under center. Mahomes has played in three Super Bowls winning two of them while also being Superbowl MVP both times. The superstar is almost invincible in the playoffs with a 14-3 postseason record. With both teams having win-first quarterbacks, the football world wonders who will bring home the Lombardi Trophy.

“I think Kansas City will end up coming on top,” Barrus said. “I just think they’ve been a better playoff team over the years.”

Ever since the arrival of Mahomes, Kansas City has been blessed with elite quarterback play in the playoffs. His passer rating of 106.3 in the postseason ranks first of all time. With the sensational performances comes long-term success, which can get very old for non-Chiefs fans.

“I think the [Chiefs] have won too much,” junior 49ers fan JJ Gardener said. “They’ve been put on such a high pedestal making their players cocky.”

On the other hand, the Chiefs’ Kingdom doesn’t mind consistent appearances in the big game.

“I like how the Chiefs play,” junior Chiefs fan Trey Scott said. “They’ve had to battle back after losing a really good receiver. It’s impressive how they overcame adversity and still ended up in the Superbowl.”

In the 2022 offseason, Pro Bowl wide receiver Tyreek Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins by the Kansas City Chiefs. Countless NFL analysts counted out the Chiefs, simply not seeing them as contenders. Since the trade, Kansas City has gone to two straight Super Bowls. The only question that remains in everyone’s head is, “Who will bring home the Lombardi Trophy?”

“The 49ers can win if they actually don’t suck,” Gardener said. “When they perform at their peak, they are a very tough team to stop.”

San Francisco has studs all over their roster. Pro Bowlers like linebacker Fred Warner, running back Christian McCaffrey, and tight end George Kittle to name a few. The team is so incredibly stacked that analysts believe signal-caller Brock Purdy isn’t even top 10 on his team. 

Super Bowl XLVIII is set to be a good one. Two absolute juggernauts going head-to-head in front of millions. Will the Chiefs repeat, or will the 49ers win their sixth Super Bowl title?

“I think it’ll be one of the best Super Bowls in history,” Scott said. “I’m looking forward to watching the game.”