Super Bowl LVIII Preview

The 2023 NFL season concludes with the 58th Super Bowl between two historic franchises. A whole season of play culminates in this match, one that captures the attention of fans all over the world. Not only is it the pinnacle of the sport but is an impressive all round show, something that ensures even the most casual follower of the sport will be entertained.

Who’s playing?

This year’s match will see the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers and will be played in the Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. It is the first time that it will be held in Nevada, but the third straight year that it will take place in the Western United States. For the first time since Super Bowl LV, the defending champion, Kansas City Chiefs,  will be present and looking to win two titles in a row.

This is the second time that these two have met in a Super Bowl, with Kansas City winning the previous tie in 2019 by a score of 31-20. It is the fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years for the Chiefs, only the third team in history to manage such a feat. This is the 49ers second Super Bowl in five seasons and their third over the past twelve years, they will be looking for a change in fortune though, having lost their previous two appearances. Overall though, it is the 49ers that have the better record with five wins compared to Kansas City’s three.

Player to watch?

A key player will without a doubt be Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is set to start his fourth Super Bowl before the age of 30. He is seeking his third title at the age of 28. He also is in possession of two NFL MVP awards already, after only having six full seasons as a starter under his belt. Tom Brady remains the most legendary quarterback, but he had a different style altogether. Mahomes certainly is the player to watch in this match.

Record-breaking Head Coach

Another person breaking records is Chiefs coach Andy Reid. He is the fourth coach in NFL history to make at least five Super Bowl appearances. He has eight straight AFC West titles under his belt at the Chiefs and also managed 14 years as Eagles coach between the years of 1999 and 2012. By comparison, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is seeking his first Super Bowl title and will be hoping it is third time lucky for him as he was part of the coaching staff for the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco in 2016 and 2019 respectively. 

Should the 49ers win, they would join the Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers with the most Super Bowl titles, six.

Both teams have some of the NFL’s most offensive linemen, with three of the combined starters being Pro Bowl selections this year. Both teams also play a fast, physical defence, finishing high up the rankings when it comes to defensive stats. Both teams finished in the top ten this year when it comes to average time of possession. In terms of odds, it is the San Francisco 49ers who are currently favourites, although there isn’t too much to choose between the two. 

As the designated home team in this year’s Super Bowl, the Chiefs chose to wear their red home jerseys, meaning that the 49ers will wear their white away jerseys. The home team also has the pick of training grounds and hotels. The referee, Bill Vinovich was also the man in the middle for Super Bowl LV, in which the Chiefs defeated 49ers 31-20. He is the first referee to officiate two finals involving the same teams. The pre-game and half-time shows will feature the likes of Reba McEntire, Post Malone and Usher.

Last updated: 08.02.2024