Super Bowl 58 predictions: Our expert picks for Chiefs vs 49ers, MVP, Taylor Swift sightings
Despite popular opinion, and the NFL's script writers, Taylor Swift won't determine the winner of Super Bowl 58 on Sunday night.
That will happen on the field when the Kansas City Chiefs, the team Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce plays for, face the San Francisco 49ers − and not in Swift's private suite. Or so we're led to believe.
And there's a good chance that the game won't be determined by the marquee names, who are clearly all on offense. The Chiefs, for example, are playing in this game because of their No. 2-ranked defense, and not necessarily because of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kelce, the star tight end.
The 49ers, with offensive stars Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and quarterback Brock Purdy, can be dominant, ranking second in the NFL. But so can the defense, which is ranked eighth.
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Either way, it should be a memorable game. Here's how we see it:
Our prognosticators are Martin Frank (Eagles beat writer/columnist, Delawareonline.com), Greg Giesen (sports strategist, Delawareonline.com), Tom McGurk (sports editor, Courierpostonline.com), Tom Moore (sports columnist, Phillyburbs.com), Bob Jordan (Sports editor, app.com), Bert Bainbridge (Sports betting analyst & columnist, Northjersey.com), Tom Haines (Pennsylvania state planning), Brad Myers (high school sports writer, Delawareonline.com), Melissa Hanejko (High School Sports Content & Social Media, Phillyburbs.com), Kevin Tresolini, (college sports reporter, Delawareonline.com), Michelle Ganassi (audience director & die-hard Steelers fan, Delawareonline.com).
Martin Frank
I'm basing my pick on Andy Reid food references vs. 49ers field complaints during Super Bowl week. I'm kidding. Both defenses are too good to allow that many points.
Score: Chiefs 25, 49ers 23
MVP: Chris Jones, Chiefs. The last defensive player to win the award was Denver pass rusher Von Miller eight years ago. Jones is the same kind of difference-maker. Just ask the Eagles.
Taylor Swift sightings (over/under 25): Over. She'll have more sightings than Travis Kelce receiving yards. And Kelce might go over 100 yards.
Tom McGurk
What do you get when you combine the sport’s greatest coach, a top-flight quarterback and a smothering defense? The Super Bowl XLIII champions.
Score: Chiefs 36, 49ers 23
MVP: Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs. Covered this kid when he was running wild on the football fields of Vineland years ago. Look for him to do the same thing on the sport’s grandest stage.
Taylor Swift sightings: Under 25. The pop icon will be featured plenty on the telecast, including a pair of celebrations for the real "Pop" Pacheco.
Tom Moore
The Chiefs' Super Bowl experience will make the difference.
Score: Chiefs 31, 49ers 24
MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs. Quarterbacks are popular picks. This will be Mahomes' third.
Taylor Swift sightings: Under 25. She'll get plenty of face time, though.
Bert Bainbridge
Kansas City's defense will have problems containing the multitude of weapons the 49ers have, but ultimately the Chiefs do enough to win a third Lombardi trophy in the last five years.
Score: Chiefs 31, 49ers 28
MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs. Even though the Chiefs are underdogs, Mahomes is still the odds-on-favorite to win his third Super Bowl MVP. It's hard to bet against him when he has taken home the award both times he's won the Super Bowl.
Taylor Swift sightings: Under 25. There's no denying how much air time Swift will get on Super Bowl Sunday. However, this is way too high of a line for me. I believe she'll be shown on CBS a little less, "only" around 15-20 times during Super Bowl 58.
Bob Jordan
Patriots' defensive end Matthew Judon shared a social-media post that indicated he thinks Patrick Mahomes has game officials on his side. It's a photoshopped picture of Mahomes and an NFL game official kissing. Who am I to argue?
Score: Chiefs 21, 49ers 14
MVP: Isiah Pacheco. Another win for Jersey.
Taylor Swift sightings: 0 (same as Travis Kelce sightings at the Grammys). A Bruce Springsteen 2012 concert went on for four hours including multiple encores. I'm betting Taylor also gets carried away while performing in Japan, scuttling plans to make it to the big game.
Brad Myers
San Francisco breaks out to an early lead, but Kansas City seizes the momentum midway through the third quarter when Travis Kelce takes a lateral and throws a 3-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Swift, who had just reported as an eligible receiver. The 49ers − and Tony Romo − never recover.
Score: Chiefs 27, 49ers 17
MVP: Travis Kelce, Chiefs. He may have had a couple seasons with better stats, but all things considered, this is a career year.
Taylor Swift sightings: 3, which will still be more than enough to outrage all the people who swear they haven’t watched a game since that 49ers quarterback took a knee.
Greg Giesen
The 49ers might be the best team in the NFC, but the sports transitive property dictates that the 49ers were blasted by the Ravens and the Ravens lost to the Chiefs. Therefore, the Chiefs should have an easy time with the 49ers. Of course, that's not how things work, but I'm still picking the Chiefs because I despise the 49ers. Always stay true to one's self.
Score: Chiefs 27, 49ers 24
MVP: Travis Kelce, Chiefs. He's Patrick Mahomes' top target. He'll get a couple of TDs, and the narrative will be too good not to give him the award. Of course, FOX News will devote three news cycles as to how this is a Pentagon plot.
Taylor Swift sightings: Under 25. Taylor will make 10 sightings, but will be mentioned 78 times.
Michelle Ganassi
Kansas City may look shaky to start. But no one can rebound quite like the Chiefs. Look for Travis Kelce to have 2 TDs leading the Chiefs to a win.
Score: Chiefs 27, 49ers 17
MVP: Travis Kelce, Chiefs. This seems to be his year. The game will end with Travis as MVP and a kiss from Taylor.
Taylor Swift sightings: 10. Once when she arrives, twice for the two Travis touchdowns, and everything in between.
Tom Haines
The Chiefs have found their mojo after an on and off season, and they surely hold the advantage at the most important position of quarterback. But the 49ers are a 2-point favorite for a reason. The defensive line will give Mahomes fits as the game wears on.
Score: 49ers 23, Chiefs 16
MVP: Nick Bosa, Chase Young, 49ers.
Taylor Swift sightings: 11. It would be more, but since she won't have a lot to cheer about, CBS cameras won't dwell on her.
Kevin Tresolini
None of my picks lately have been successful, so why try to put any logic or analysis into this one? I'll just pick the team to win that I want to win, which is why the 49ers are probably a shoo-in.
Score: Chiefs 34, 49ers 30
MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs. Travis Kelce might be having the fling with the pop star, but nobody flings the football better in big games than Mahomes, who'll repeat as MVP.
Taylor Swift sightings: Multiply the number of Kelce catches times two. Voila!
Melissa Hanejko
The Chiefs are playing their best football of the season, and, let's face it, they have Taylor Swift on their side, and everything she touches turns to gold.
Score: Chiefs 35, 49ers 27
MVP: Pat Mahomes, Chiefs.
Taylor Swift sightings: Does this include pregame and postgame? If so, then infinity. But otherwise, let's say 13.
Overall records
15-5: Hanejko, Bainbridge
14-6: Moore, Myers, McGurk, Jordan
13-7: Haines
12-8: Frank
12-6: Ganassi
11-9: Tresolini
10-10: Giesen
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Super Bowl 58 predictions: Our picks for Chiefs vs 49ers, Taylor Swift