It seems like only a moment has passed since we last saw Super Bowl LVII. As one might expect, there is unprecedented excitement leading up to this game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs from Las Vegas. The club led by Patrick Mahomes is aiming to win its third championship in the previous five years, while the Niners want to exact revenge on Kansas City for losing to them in Super Bowl LIV and capture their first championship since 1994.
Let’s indulge in our football addiction as we wait for that game to start by playing CBS Sports’ yearly Madden NFL 24 Super Bowl simulation online. If you have been following us for the past few years, you are aware of the seriousness of these simulations. This simulation is a perfect 3-0 when it comes to selecting the Chiefs, Rams, and Bucs when the dust settles over the last three Super Bowls.
We also performed our first-ever full-season simulation for 2023 this summer. Even though some strange predictions—like the Panthers entering the playoffs—came true, the simulation got a few things frighteningly right. That includes the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl, the Packers defeating the Cowboys in the playoffs, and the Eagles finishing the postseason as one and done.
Here’s where that simulation and the most recent, and arguably official, Super Bowl simulation diverge, though. In the latest simulation of the full season, the San Francisco 49ers win it all in a 10-6 rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas, whereas Kansas City was lifting the Lombardi Trophy at the conclusion of the first one.
The Niners started the game with the ball and moved down the field until wideout Brandon Aiyuk and quarterback Brock Purdy connected for an 18-yard touchdown. That would be the only time either offense would find the end zone during this game.
Throughout the whole game, Kansas City’s offensive struggles against the 49ers defense were severe. The Chiefs drove into the red zone on their opening play, but the Niners defense held firm and forced a Harrison Butker field goal to tie the score at seven points. On second down, Fred Warner came close to intercepting Mahomes in the end zone.
Dre Greenlaw then forced a field goal attempt by batting down a pass just short of the goal line.
The first half was mostly consumed by those two drives, but San Francisco managed to run a two-minute drill prior to the break, which set up a 38-yard field goal by Jake Moody to give them a 10-3 lead at the half.
When the Chiefs came out for the third quarter, they gained the upper hand and briefly appeared to be able to tie the score at ten points apiece. They advanced rapidly into 49ers territory, but the drive finally faltered, resulting in a 49-yard field goal by Butker. Kansas City needed its defense to come up big because the score was now 10-6. It appeared as though they would force a quick three-and-out, leaving the 49ers with a third-and-10. But that was the moment when Purdy hit George Kittle for a 30-yard gain, one of his most crucial passes of the game.
San Francisco was able to extend the clock till the end of the quarter thanks to that reception. Jake Moody’s 57-yard field goal attempt at the start of the fourth quarter kept the Niners’ lead to only four points. After that error, the Chiefs were unable to build on their momentum and lost three straight possessions. Andy Reid was forced to use all of his timeouts during San Francisco’s drive that followed, but his defense was able to get a stop and the ball back with a chance to win it.
With just four points separating them from the lead and 1:43 of regulation left, Mahomes and the Chiefs offense regained possession of the ball at their 23-yard line, where a touchdown would give them the victory. Even though Mahomes has often shown off in this environment, this wasn’t one of those times. This season, Chase Young—acquired by the 49ers at the trade deadline—made an incredible tackle to set up third-and-20 and extend the clock.
The very next play, Mahomes attempted a deep pass down the right sideline, which 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward, a former colleague in the Chiefs, picked off. This allowed San Francisco to win and gave Ward the MVP award for the Super Bowl.
The San Francisco 49ers were able to win Super Bowl LVIII, 10-6, following a kneeldown by Purdy.
Naturally, Super Bowl LVIII will be shown on February 11 at 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS and will be streamed onParamount+. Don’t miss it to see how this game is actually played.
