Forecaster Frank NFL Picks Championship Weekend: VEGAS!!! Super Bowl LVIII
I split the championship games and now sit 139-139-6, heading into Super Bowl LVIII.
Super Bowl LVIII:
- SF -2.5 (o/u 47.5)
- Chiefs 34 49ers 30
Coming off a Super Bowl championship last season, the Chiefs looked like they were suffering a season-long hangover for a large portion of the season. The offense was out of synch, and dropped passes became a real issue. While the Chiefs easily won the AFC West for the eighth consecutive season, they hardly looked like a team heading toward a dynasty. The Chiefs struggled, especially in November and December, losing three of four and four of six.
It has been a different story in the playoffs for the Chiefs, as they have saved their best for last, beating the Dolphins in arctic temperatures before winning road games in Buffalo and Baltimore. Their offense has looked the best it has all year, and their defense, which was a strength in the regular season, has been lights-out in the playoffs. They completely shut down MVP Lamar Jackson in the AFC Championship Game and are peaking at the right time, with an eye on securing three Super Bowl titles in five years and joining the pantheon of great Super Bowl dynasties.
The 49ers looked like the best team in the NFC all season. Coming off back-to-back losses in the NFC Championship, the Niners started the season hot as Christian McCaffery showed why he is the best running back in the league. They had a strong defense and a balanced offense, as Brock Purdy proved he was a solid starting quarterback when he returned from the elbow injury he suffered in the postseason last year. Except for a three-game losing streak in October, the Niners were the most consistent team in the NFL, as they had multiple weapons and won with a balanced attack.
In the playoffs, the 49ers have stumbled a bit, as they needed a last-minute touchdown drive from Brock Purdy to beat the Packers. In the NFC Championship, San Francisco had a terrible first 40 minutes as the Lions dominated the first half, holding a 24-7 lead at the break. In the third quarter, the Lions had a chance to get a 17-point lead again but chose to go for it instead of kicking a makable field goal. That decision was the game's turning point as the Niners drove down, scored, quickly got a fumble, and tied the game on the way to reaching the Super Bowl for the eighth time in team history.
A rematch of Super Bowl LIV, won by the Chiefs, Kansas City hopes for a repeat performance as they seek three Lombardi Trophies in five years. This Niners team is stronger than the one the Chiefs face in Miami. In that game, in their first Super Bowl in 50 years, the Chiefs rallied from ten down and beat the 49ers to start the dynasty. It is the Chiefs' fourth Super Bowl in five years; while they lost their first chance at repeating in 2021, this time feels different. The Chiefs paced themselves, knowing this was money time. Expect a big game from Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce while the Niners spend the entire game playing catch-up as Kansas City holds on for a 34-30 win.
Super Bowl MVP:
- Travis Kelce, over 150 yards with 3 touchdowns.