Dustin Baker’s Super Bowl LVIII Prediction
The Kansas City Chiefs hope to pull off an NFL feat that hasn’t occurred in almost two decades — repeating as world champions.
Dustin Baker’s Super Bowl LVIII Prediction
The New England Patriots pulled it off in 2003-2004, and then that was that on teams winning the Super Bowl in consecutive years.
The San Francisco 49ers stand in Kansas City’s way and arguably employ a better head-to-toe roster. But does depth chart talent matter enough to hit the pause button on the Chiefs’ budding dynasty? Here’s the prediction.
2 Predictions against Mahomes
In back-to-back weeks, it was too tempting to bet on the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. If Buffalo were ever going to break on through to the other side like a Doors song, 2023 would be the year because a) The Bills were at home b) The Chiefs had visible warts, mostly wide receiver drops in crucial games.
The same logic then applied to the Ravens.
Neither bet paid. The Chiefs turned on the gas in both recent playoff games as underdogs. Folks should feel stupid or petrified to wager against Patrick Mahomes and friends thrice consecutively.
49ers Can’t Get Down Early
San Francisco could “get away” with allowing the Lions to grab a 24-7 lead. But if one believes for one second that Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, will roll over and say, “This thing’s on ice,” you’re foolish. The 49ers must take the lead early or at least trade haymakers.
The Chiefs love to play from behind in the Super Bowl — their two recent Super Bowl wins featured 10-point deficits — and they can get away with trailing throughout the game. But Brock Purdy cannot. The Chiefs are not the Lions.
San Francisco has to get Christian McCaffrey cooking. If he encounters a quiet game, the 49ers will lose. Plain and simple.
The Pick
Kansas City will formally become a dynasty on Sunday night and defeat the 49ers 30-24. Yes, they performed subpar at points during the regular season, but that just doesn’t matter. It matters for most teams in most sports — the regular season indicates future performance — but Kansas City is immune.
We might look back in eight years or so and realize that Tom Brady’s team was the only one that could stop Mahomes in the big game. Which will obviously cause us to smirk.
Chiefs over 49ers | 30-24
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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