The playoffs are almost over, but there is still one game left: Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs. and the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams triumphed on Sunday for their place in the big match, which begins February 11 in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.
Kansas City, led by Patrick Mahomes, is back for its second straight Super Bowl after beating Lamar Jackson and the AFC’s top-seeded Ravens. San Francisco, meanwhile, rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat the underdog Detroit Lions.
Now it’s time to look ahead to Super Bowl Sunday, which is a highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 season opener. Below you’ll find all the details on how to tune in, along with early odds, key scenarios and game predictions:
How to watch Super Bowl LVIII
Date: Sunday February 11 | Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS, Nickelodeon
Flow: Available through Paramount+ on all platforms, or connect with your TV provider on the CBS.com or CBS Sports apps
Opening odds: 49ers -2.5, O/U 47.5
While the 49ers were 2.5-point favorites, the line has since dropped. On Monday, the Niners are 2-point favorites.
Paramount+ can be streamed on a number of supported devices, including iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, Fire TV, PlayStation 4 and 5, Roku TV, Xbox, and Google TV. The Nickelodeon show is a special edition with a family and children’s theme.
The match: Chiefs vs. 49ers
How they got here:
- THE Chefs are making their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years after dominating the No. 1 seed Ravens in Baltimore. For much of 2023, the perennial contenders have struggled to field a dominant offense, with reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes tying a career high in turnovers while targeting an error-plagued receiving corps. Then, Mahomes’ longtime connection with star tight end Travis Kelce heated up down the stretch. Coupled with a running game and physical defense, including veteran playmakers Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed, Kansas City shifted gears in the playoffs, reaffirming themselves as the modern-day Patriots – still technically sound and never count when it’s most important.
- THE 49ers are returning to the Super Bowl for the second time in five years after overcoming a 17-point deficit to the underdog Lions in the NFC Championship. Excited all year as a title contender after winning three conference championships in coach Kyle Shanahan’s last four seasons, San Francisco has been a juggernaut in the regular season, going 12-5 all year. counting two MVP candidates in young, do-it-all quarterback Brock Purdy. running back Christian McCaffrey, as well as a premier “D” featuring stalwarts like Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and Charvarius Ward. Although they barely outlasted the upstart Packers to start their playoff run, they showed plenty of resilience in surviving Detroit to earn a ticket to the big game.
Key scenarios:
- Can Mahomes continue to pursue Brady? Now 14-3 as a starter in the postseason, the Chiefs signal-caller is already well on his way to a Hall of Fame induction, and a third Super Bowl title at age 28 would keep him on an all-time Brady pace on the big scene.
- Is this the best Chiefs defense of the Mahomes-Reid era? This is partly a rhetorical question. Spagnuolo’s unit has always been a strong pressurer, but it has been particularly stingy this year, including against “elite” playoff offenses.
- Can Shanahan finally overcome this obstacle? The 49ers coach faced the Chiefs in the Super Bowl to close out the 2019 season but saw Andy Reid hoist the Lombardi. He has since progressed to three straight NFC title games, without any trophies to show for it. This might be its best chance to get the job done, with an offense even more capable of operating a balanced attack.
Early prediction:
Overall, the 49ers likely have an edge in talent, boasting Pro Bowl-caliber weapons at virtually every position. And Purdy proved against Detroit that he can overcome adversity. But just like last year, when the Eagles’ all-star lineup couldn’t necessarily match the Chiefs’ gravitas, it’s hard to bet against Mahomes when it matters most. This one will be must-see TV, but our early predictions are a slight Kansas City victory. To call 27-24 heads.