BREAKING: I am calling the Super Bowl matchup right now
We are down to the games that shape legacies. Two wins left to lift the Lombardi. I have watched every snap that matters and tracked the adjustments that swing these matchups. Here is the call, right now, with conviction. Kansas City will win the AFC. San Francisco will take the NFC. That is the path to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium.
My pick for Super Bowl LX: Kansas City vs San Francisco.
AFC call: Kansas City gets it done
Big games are quarterback games. Patrick Mahomes turns tense pockets into answers. He turns broken plays into first downs. He also protects the ball in the highest stress snaps. That is the biggest edge on this stage.
Andy Reid’s menu stays massive in January. Motions, stacks, and option routes create easy throws on early downs. When defenses press, Kansas City leans into quick game and screens to steal rhythm. When safeties cheat, they hit explosive shots. The flexibility is the difference in drives that decide titles.
The silent star has been the defense. The pass rush wins with games up front and speed off the edge. The secondary squeezes windows, then tackles. That trims yards after catch and forces teams to play perfect in the red zone. Few can handle that for four quarters.
Turnovers matter most this weekend. Kansas City has lived in the positive column in these spots. They steal one possession, then squeeze clock in the fourth. In a one score game, that is the ballgame. I expect that script again.
NFC call: San Francisco’s balance is too much
San Francisco wins with force and finish. Kyle Shanahan layers run and pass so every look has a counter. Defenses guess, then they are a step late. That is how the 49ers put games on ice in the third quarter.
Christian McCaffrey tilts the field with patience and burst. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk turn slants into sprints. George Kittle owns the middle and blocks like a tackle. With that skill mix, every motion stresses rules. It is simple in structure, brutal in practice.
The offensive line sets the tone. They are not perfect in pure pass sets, but the scheme protects them. Play action slows rush. Angles and leverage create seams. On the other side, Nick Bosa and the front roll waves. They do not need to blitz to affect timing. That lets the back end break on throws and finish.
The red zone is where titles tilt. San Francisco’s sequencing down there is elite. Toss crack. Leak. Boot. The calls land in rhythm with how defenses react. That is how you punch your ticket in January.
The levers that decide it
These games flip on a few repeatable truths. I will be tracking these four, snap to snap.
- First and second down success. Win early, control the script.
- Explosive plays, runs of 12 plus and passes of 16 plus.
- Turnovers, often tip drills and strip sacks in crowded pockets.
- Field position, hidden yards from special teams and penalties.
Watch the trenches. The team that wins line of scrimmage on early downs controls tempo, calls, and clock.
Quarterback health matters, but protection matters more. Clean platforms create reads and rhythm. Dirty pockets force hero ball, and hero ball invites mistakes. Coaching adjustments decide the rest. The best staffs steal a cheap score out of halftime. That is often the difference in a game this tight.
What this means and what comes next
If my board holds, Super Bowl LX becomes a heavyweight sequel. Mahomes and Reid’s precision against Shanahan’s balance and speed. It would be a chess match wrapped in a track meet, in the 49ers’ backyard in Santa Clara. The storylines write themselves. Dynasty talk for Kansas City. Redemption and home turf pressure for San Francisco. Legends can add a ring. Young stars can make a name that sticks for life.
We will learn plenty in the first 20 minutes of both title games. Are defenses winning on first down. Are quarterbacks throwing on time. Are coordinators landing the scripted punches. If Kansas City gets a takeaway and San Francisco lands explosives after motion, start clearing space on the Levi’s Stadium sideline for them.
The stage is set. The margins are razor thin. I am on the record. Kansas City and San Francisco are going to the Super Bowl. Football time. 🏈
