Chiefs or 49ers - who will win? Super Bowl predictions

[CharlieH]

 

Super Bowl 58: San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas Date: Sunday, 11 February Start: 23:30 GMT (15:30 PST)
BBC coverage: Listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and follow live text on the BBC Sport website and app

We have a superb Super Bowl 58 match-up with the San Francisco 49ers facing the Kansas City Chiefs, but who will hit the jackpot in Las Vegas?

These games are decided on small margins - big plays here and there, and moments of magic proving the difference between the ultimate glory of lifting the Lombardi Trophy and the desperate despair of trudging off that confetti-laden field, knowing you have come so near yet remain so far.

So will Brock Purdy play better than Patrick Mahomes? Can the Chiefs defence somehow slow down Christian McCaffrey, and which other players, tactics or coaching titbits do you need to watch out for during the big game?

 

Let's take a look..

Their defence and running game continues to dominate, as despite having a generational talent in star quarterback Mahomes, those are the two big things that have got the defending champions back to the Super Bowl.

Isiah Pacheco runs the ball as hard as anyone and, defensively, the most points they have allowed in a game all season is 27 - restricting Lamar Jackson, who was this week named the season's Most Valuable Player, and his Baltimore Ravens team to just 10 at home in the AFC Championship game proved they are an elite group.

Their defence has kept them in games all season while the receivers struggled to catch passes, leaving Mahomes to sprinkle his magic when needed. So the final piece of the plan is keeping him upright and keeping San Francisco's disruptive defender Nick Bosa at arm's length.

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• Essential guide to first Super Bowl in Las Vegas

• Super Bowl 58: A beginner's guide to American football

• Mahomes v Brady - Can Chiefs quarterback be the new GOAT?

Who are the Chiefs' star men?......

FULL STORY HERE