49ers vs. Chiefs: Super Bowl 58 Preview and Prediction

LAS VEGAS -- One more day. Just one more day until Super Bowl 58 kicks off between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.

It is a day that the 49ers have been battling for ever since the Chiefs crushed their dreams four years ago in Super Bowl 54. This is a game that gives the 49ers a chance at revenge, but more importantly it gives them a chance of redemption. For the last three seasons, the 49ers have had their seasons ended in heartbreak.

In 2021, it was a heartbreak loss to the Los Angeles Rams, then in 2022 it was the Brock Purdy elbow injury that cost them a chance against the Philadelphia Eagles. All of those losses since Super Bowl 54 have built the 49ers up for this. Now is their chance to show that they are not glorified runner ups.

So much is at stake for the 49ers in this game. They are by far facing the most pressure to win. It's not that big of a deal if the Chiefs lose because they are already established and have their legacies written out. A loss will not hurt Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, or Andy Reid in the grand scheme of things.

A loss for the 49ers, however, will prove detrimental for the entire team, and especially for Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers are undoubtedly the better team. This is a game that they should win, but there is some hesitation and concerns I have with picking them. Against the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions, the 49ers did not show up for all four quarters.

Yes, they pulled out the win regardless and deserve credit for persevering. But they never should have been in those gritty situations in the first place. The reason they've been in those spots is because is first and foremost their run defense. It has been subpar at best in their last two games.

And while the Chiefs aren't the same caliber as the Packers and Lions in running the ball, they are threatening enough to take advantage of that weakness. Isiah Pacheco is no slouch. He can easily do some damage against the 49ers' defense. It's going to be on defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to ensure that he implements a tighter structure.

The 49ers cannot be anywhere close to a similar situation as the Packers or Lions again. The Chiefs will make sure they hold onto the lead unlike those two. Then, there is the question of effort. If the 49ers were having some lackluster plays in the NFC championship, then they can possibly have that in the Super Bowl as well.

The last thing that gives me some doubts about the 49ers winning is Brock Purdy. He is getting way too many passes for his last two outings all because he mustered a game winning drive against the Packers and a strong second half against the Lions. Before that final drive against the Packers, Purdy was horrible.

In the first half against the Lions, Purdy looked like a game manager. He needs to be able to bring out the version of himself that got him into the MVP discussion. Because what he showed in the last two games was a far cry from what he has shown. He is way better than that and will need to be against the Chiefs.

With all that said, there are way too many questions about the 49ers coming into this game. It's not impossible for them to look like their dominant selves again, but they really haven't been ever since the loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas. Something about that game kind of took away their swagger.

And that is why I like the Chiefs this game.

I just don't feel confident in the 49ers collectively being the best version of themselves. I believe Reid and Mahomes will run circles around Wilks' defense with some brilliant plays and Wilks will have no idea how or when to adjust. As for Purdy, I think he will be fine and look solid.

The 49ers should be efficient on the ground with Christian McCaffrey. Maybe that is enough for the 49ers. The offense is the key to the 49ers winning because the defense is leaky. These guys will have to put up points and hold onto possession.

But again, I don't like what I've seen from the 49ers in the last two games, especially defensively. The momentum they had coming into the playoffs looks gone, while the Chiefs have it all. All of these questions and concerns with them are usually midseason ones. Yet, they have them going into the Super Bowl.

I'll take the team that doesn't.

Final score: 49ers 24 Chiefs 27