Super Bowl 2024 predictions: Our 13 experts pick Chiefs-49ers NFL championship winner
The biggest annual sporting event in North America takes place on Sunday.
The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers face off in Super Bowl 2024 in Las Vegas in a rematch of Super Bowl 54 in 2020.
Kansas City's up-and-down regular season gave way to a stunningly clean and efficient team in the playoffs. Patrick Mahomes has not yet thrown an interception in the postseason, and the KC defense has been very good against Miami's Tua Tagovailoa, Buffalo's Josh Allen and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson. Travis Kelce has also been very good in the playoffs (with girlfriend Taylor Swift in attendance for all three games), leading the Chiefs in receiving.
San Francisco earned the bye week and has had to make comebacks in the second half to win against the Packers and Lions. The 49ers defense has not been at their best throughout December and January, but Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco offense has made the game-winning plays in the fourth quarter of both playoff games.
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Here's how the Tennessean's sports staff picks Sunday's game:
Super Bowl 2024: Chiefs vs. 49ers predictions
Nick Suss, Titans beat reporter
Chiefs 23, 49ers 20
Look – The 49ers are the better team. If San Francisco wins, we'll have to have a serious chat about where this roster ranks among the most complete Super Bowl winners of the century. But c'mon. When has an opponent having "the better roster" stopped the Chiefs in the past? It didn't last year. It didn't the last time these two teams played in the Super Bowl. And it won't Sunday. Give me Patrick Mahomes and let's coronate the Chiefs for what they are: A dynasty.
Gentry Estes, columnist
Chiefs 28, 49ers 17
San Francisco may have the better team, but KC has the quarterback. I’m not picking against Patrick Mahomes.
Paul Skrbina, sports reporter
49ers 24, Chiefs 21
How can anyone pick against Filip Forsberg’s BFF and Nashville (offseason) resident George Kittle? Despite having Patrick Mahomes, Tay Tay’s team comes up short and the 49ers prevail.
Mike Organ, sports reporter
Chiefs 24, 49ers 13
As much as I would like to see Brock Purdy and Nashville’s very own George Kittle win a Super Bowl, it won’t happen. Patrick Mahomes and his supporting cast are simply too much for the 49ers defense to handle.
Aria Gerson, Vanderbilt sports reporter
Chiefs 31, 49ers 24
In the words of Taylor Swift, "I think I've seen this film before." You may or may not like the ending, but it's hard to see the result being different from the first Super Bowl matchup between these two. The best way to stop Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl is to keep him out of the Super Bowl.
George Robinson, high school sports reporter
Chiefs 28, 49ers 24
Patrick Mahomes cements his legacy with a third Super Bowl ring, throwing for three touchdowns in a game that won’t be decided until the fourth quarter because the Niners won’t go down easily.
Tyler Palmateer, high school sports reporter
Chiefs 24, 49ers 21
It's been a roller-coaster season in Kansas City, but the Chiefs are playing good complementary football at the right time. Swifties rejoice.
Cecil Joyce, MTSU and high school sports reporter
49ers 27, Chiefs 17
Blackman alum Jauan Jennings and Gallatin alum Jordan Mason get a ring. The 49ers are able to run the ball and keep it out of Patrick Mahomes’ hands while the defense makes it tough for the Chiefs through the air.
Jacob Shames, sports reporter
Chiefs 28, 49ers 27
The 49ers are the more complete team, but I can't find the nerve to pick against Patrick Mahomes, even with a middling arsenal around him. He's the best quarterback alive and no one is particularly close, and if this game comes down to one drive, he'll be the one who wins it.
Nick Gray, trending sports reporter
Chiefs 31, 49ers 20
It's time for the NFL-viewing public to get serious about what the Chiefs are in historical context. Kansas City has made four Super Bowls in five seasons and is staring down a third title. Sunday is a legacy game, and a win for KC adds the 2020s Chiefs to the 1970s Steelers, 1980s 49ers and the Brady-era Patriots without conversation. Patrick Mahomes is inevitable, and so is a comfortable win for the dynastic Chiefs in Las Vegas.
Chris Thomas, USA TODAY South Region sports director
Chiefs 31, 49ers 24
Another ring for Kansas City in this Red Era of the NFL. Patrick Mahomes gets his third championship in five seasons to affirm the Chiefs’ dynasty, and Travis Kelce gets to seal it with a kiss.
Em Poertner, USA TODAY South Region sports planner
49ers 27, Chiefs 24
In a season where jokes about “the script” were more prevalent than ever, there might be an outcome that the NFL would prefer from a money-making standpoint. But this isn’t a love story, it’s a jewelry heist and the team that can stay calm under pressure gets the ring.
Tom Kreager, Tennessee high school sports editor
Chiefs 34, 49ers 27
This is the storybook ending for the Chiefs' season. It’s the season of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift – oh, and shirtless brother Jason Kelce. Plus the 49ers are going to struggle against Kansas City running back Isiah Pacheco and Patrick Mahomes’ ability to scramble and make plays.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Super Bowl 2024 predictions: Our 13 experts pick 49ers-Chiefs NFL game
