SUPER BOWL 58 PREVIEW CAPSULE
SAN FRANCISCO (14-5) VS. KANSAS CITY (14-6)
Where: at Las Vegas When: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. TV: CBS
Opening line: 49ers by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Against the spread: 49ers 9-9-1; Chiefs 13-7.
Series record: Chiefs lead 8-7.
Last meeting: Chiefs beat 49ers 44-23 on Oct. 23, 2022, in Santa Clara, Calif.
Last game: 49ers beat Lions 34-31; Chiefs beat Ravens 17-10.
49ers offense: Overall (2), Rush (3), Pass (4), Scoring (3)
49ers defense: Overall (8), Rush (3), Pass (14), Scoring (3)
Chiefs offense: Overall (9), Rush (19), Pass (6), Scoring (15)
Chiefs defense: Overall (2), Rush (18), Pass (4), Scoring (2).
Turnover differential: 49ers plus-10; Chiefs minus-11.
49ers player to watch:
QB Brock Purdy. The thirdyoungest quarterback ever to start a Super Bowl, the 24year-old Purdy can cap a remarkable rise from final pick of the 2022 draft to champion in less than two years. Purdy struggled in the rain in the divisional round against Green Bay and for the first half in the conference championship game against Detroit, but he has led back-toback comeback wins. He has thrown for 519 yards and two TDs with one INT this postseason.
Chiefs player to watch: QB Patrick Mahomes. He can further cement his legacy as one of the greatest players in NFL history with his third Lombardi in his first six seasons as a starter, and perhaps even capture a third Super Bowl MVP to go with it. Mahomes sacrificed stats for wins most of the season, relying on the league's No. 2ranked defense while the Kansas City offense was scuffling. But he's been excellent in the playoffs, throwing for 528 yards and five TDs with no interceptions.
Key matchup: San Francisco DE Nick Bosa vs. Kansas City's offense tackles. Bosa had two sacks in the NFC title game to give him a franchise-record 10 in his postseason career. If Bosa can't get to Mahomes, he might be able to draw holding calls against one of the most penalty-prone units in the league. The Chiefs have been called for offensive holding a league-high 36 times in the regular season and playoffs. RT Jawaan Taylor is tied for the most with eight and LT Donovan Smith has four.
Key injuries: Chief AllPro LG Joe Thuney is unlikely to play after sustaining a pectoral injury in the divisional round in Buffalo. RB Jerick McKinnon is also unlikely to play despite being designated to return from injured reserve, where he has been since a procedure for a core muscle injury on Jan. 2. ... The 49ers are relatively healthy with the only active players limited in practice this week being TE George Kittle (toe) and DL Arik Armstead (foot, knee). Both are expected to start Sunday.
Series notes: The teams met in the Super Bowl four years ago with Kansas City overcoming a 10-point deficit with three fourth-quarter touchdowns for a 31-20 victory in Miami. The Chiefs have won five of the past six in the series, including all three games with Mahomes at quarterback. They won 38-27 in 2018 and 44-23 last season.