Super Bowl 59 doesn’t kick off for another five months, in a game that will certainly be remembered in history for a long time. However, we can’t forget what happened just earlier this year in the 2023 Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII.
Last year’s Super Bowl matchup was a thriller that came down to the game’s final drive in overtime. We’re recapping Super Bowl 58 and remembering how the Chiefs secured their third Super Bowl victory in four tries under Patrick Mahomes. Let’s dive into last year’s Super Bowl matchup.
Who Played in Last Year’s Super Bowl?
Despite a regular season that saw the Chiefs struggle, they asserted their usual dominance in the playoffs and carried that success all the way to a Super Bowl victory. After finishing the regular season 11-6, the Rams won two of their four playoff games by three points, including their Super Bowl 58 win, and the other two by one or more touchdowns.
Kansas City’s path to the Super Bowl was a shaky one at times. While they still had Mahomes, the Chiefs’ wide receiving group was in the worst shape it had been in years. On top of that, star tight end Travis Kelce had one of his worst seasons in a while, suffering an early season injury. Mahomes got hot at the right time and the team’s elite defense also formed a threat.
The Chiefs finished the year with the 9th-most yards gained and 2nd-fewest yards allowed, making them a team that was still one of the best in the NFL on both sides.
The team started their playoff run dominating the Dolphins before three tight games in a row en route to their big win. They won those last three games by a combined 12 points, proving to win in the margins when it mattered most. It was a run that felt like destiny, securing back-to-back victories.
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Kelce was certainly at the focal point of the offense. He produced a whopping 32 receptions for 355 yards and three touchdowns in four playoff games. His most notable moment was scoring his five reception, two touchdown game against the Bills.
Los Angeles also boasted All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback Trent McDuffie in addition to their offensive firepower. The trio of Jones, McDuffie, and L’Jarius Sneed led a unit that was able to bend without breaking and force big plays and turnovers in key moments.
Their opponent, the 49ers, was pinned to make it to the Super Bowl essentially from the start. Coming in with one of the best rosters and coaching staffs, there weren’t many teams that stacked up to them throughout the course of the season.
Quarterback Brock Purdy led one of the best offenses in the NFL in his second season, and the 49ers’ defense was an elite throughout the season and in the playoffs. Their 34-31 comeback victory over the Lions in the NFC Championship Game was a defining moment for the team’s season. Their supreme talent showed as their offense was almost unstoppable in the second half of the game.