This is both the XVIth & XVIIth editions because I did not have an opportunity to post my predictions last year. I will list just my predictions of which game I expected and who would win the game we saw from last year (without the extensive breakdowns) so that the continuity of these posts remains.
I predicted a Rams vs Chiefs Super Bowl. The winner I predicted of the Rams vs Bengals game that we actually saw was the Rams. I felt their team had more experience that would benefit them in the big game.
Now on to this year's preview!
As my faithful readers have grown accustom, I will list each game from least to most compelling & predict the winner of each matchup. You can see how I've done overall here: All Four Super Bowl Previews Results.
Without further ado, let's dive in!
Eagles vs Bengals
There's not a whole lot for FOX or the general public to latch onto here. Joe Burrow is hungry for the trophy having made it to the big dance two years in a row but he is facing a team that hasn't had many challenges this year. The Eagles are about as suspect as the Vikings were this year. The Giants had the good fortune of facing those Vikings and the Eagles had the good fortune of facing those Giants. The 49ers will be the first test of the Eagles since the Green Birds from Philly dropped games to the Saints & Cowboys in consecutive weeks and nearly lost to the Bears the week before that. This will be a blowout win for Burrow and the Bengals. It will be over by halftime without the drama of a Brady-esque comeback by Hurts and his crew.
Winner: Bengals
Loser: The other 11 teams who have never won the Lombardi Trophy
Eagles vs Chiefs
Due to the fact that more fair-weather fans are familiar with Mahomes than with Burrow, this matchup gets the third spot. After all, between State Farm, Subway, and Head & Shoulders Mahomes has way more commercial appearances than Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts combined! For the more seasoned NFL fan this could be coined as the Andy Reid Bowl. The head coach of the Chiefs would become the winningest coach in KC history if he defeats his former team where he is still the winningest coach in Eagles history. How thoroughly Mahomes has recovered from his Division week ankle sprain against the Jaguars will determine if the Eagles will look like they still have a chance late in the fourth quarter or if this will be a lopsided as Reagan vs Mondale (or Nixon vs McGovern - take your pick) Either way the Chiefs win. The question is: by 6 or by 26?
Winner: Chiefs (and Andy Reid)
Loser: People tired or hearing Cris Collisnworth gush over Patrick Mahomes
49ers vs Chiefs
Now we are starting to get into the interesting games! Not only is this a rematch of Super Bowl LIV but this game pits the next Tom Brady against the next Payton Manning. Have you decided which is which? Brock Purdy - literally "Mr. Irrelevant" has taken over mid season due to an injury to the starting QB and lead the team to the Super Bowl! He faces off against an explosive QB who dominates in the regular season but despite 5 consecutive trips to the AFC Championship gams has only hoisted 1 Lombardi Trophy. The deciding factor in this game which is the game I expect we will see won't be the offensive side of the ball, however. The 49ers defense has only allowed opponents to score more than 20 points thrice all season! 10 times their opponent didn't score more than 14 points! Combine that defensive dominence with the addition of Purdy and McCaffrey (who have gone 6-0 since Purdy got the starting gig) and you've got a team that will be hard to top - especially for a less-than-100%-Mahomes.
Winner: 49ers
Loser: The Dallas Cowboys who now sit alone with 5 Championships as the 49ers join the Steelers & Patriots with 6
49ers vs Bengals
Here we have another Super Bowl rematch! This time going all the way back to Super Bowls XVI and XXIII (Joe Montana's first and third Super Bowl wins - long before JMO was creating these posts). Now this, like the last two faveoffs between these teams in the big dance, will be a great game! This game will be an "instant classic!" The first matchup of two QBs who will both win multiple Championships in their careers. In a year where the final 4 QBs standing are all under 28 (23, 24, 26, and 27) the torch has been passed and these two QBs will be in the top teir (with Mahomes) for years to come. This game will go back and forth with several lead changes. Burrow will lead a late drive to put the Bengals up by 2 but Purdy will answer with a drive of his own to put the 49ers in position for a last second field goal for the win!
Winner: 49ers
Loser: Patrick Mahomes who is no longer the brightest young QB in the league
There you have it! Of course, these paragraphs are just my opinion. What's yours?
