Looking ahead to Super Bowl LVIII
On Sunday, the National Football League will host its final game of the season, the 58th iteration of the Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl is one of the most watched live events of the year, and this isn’t a coincidence. After 272 regular season games and a playoff period, the competition has been whittled down to two teams, the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. This isn’t the first time these teams have met in the Super Bowl, and the star power on both sides of the field makes for a promising championship game.
The San Francisco 49ers are making their eighth Super Bowl appearance this weekend and are hoping to put an end to their two-game losing streak in the final game. On paper, San Francisco has all the makings of a great football team. Their offense revolves around star running back, Christian McCaffrey, who leads the league in rushing yards this year. McCaffrey always promises to be a threat in the middle of the field.
Other stars on the 49ers team include tight end George Kittle, wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. The quarterback for this team is the young Brock Purdy, who was selected as the very last pick in the 2022 NFL draft, giving him the title of “Mr. Irrelevant.” Though young, Purdy has put together a respectable second season. The 49ers also have more reason to win on Sunday, as they were beaten by the Chiefs four years ago in the championship game.
The Kansas City Chiefs are making their fourth Super Bowl appearance in the last five years, cementing their status as a dynasty contender. They are led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes who, despite having one of his lower statistical seasons this year, has an undeniable playoff presence and has entered the debate for one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
Other notable names on the team include Travis Kelce, a veteran tight end, and defensive superstars like defensive tackle Chris Jones and linebacker Nick Bolton. The Chiefs have put together one of the best defenses they have had in years and are always a dangerous team in post-season play.
If football isn’t for you, the Super Bowl still has other entertainment opportunities. Singer-songwriter Usher will be giving the half-time performance, and of course there will be a multitude of Super Bowl commercials to view. The Super Bowl will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11, with coverage of the event starting several hours beforehand.