49ers vs. Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII Live Blog

The rematch.

Author:
Grant Cohn
Updated:
Feb 12, 2024 12:16 AM EST

In this story:

LAS VEGAS -- This is the live blog of Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.

2:00 The 49ers should consider themselves lucky to be here, because if Josh Reynolds hadn't dropped a couple of passes when he was wide open in the NFC Championship game, the Lions easily could have beaten the 49ers. Which means the Lions largely beat themselves, while the 49ers struggled yet again -- they haven't played their best in months. It appears they peaked in November and early December, as opposed to the Chiefs, who are peaking now. Their last two wins are more impressive than any the 49ers have this season. The main issue for the 49ers is their defense. It's struggling to stop the run. sack the quarterback and hustle. Seriously -- effort has been an issue for this defense the past few weeks. That speaks to a systemic issue. Either the 49ers don't respect their defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks, or they don't respect their opponents. During the season, the 49ers had issues on defense, and they thought the solution was moving Wilks from the coach's booth to the sideline and trading for Chase Young. So far, those two moves haven't fixed anything. If the 49ers defense struggles again today and they lose, don't be surprised if the 49ers fire Wilks. He will be the scapegoat if the 49ers lose their third Super Bowl.

Prediction: 49ers, 27, Chiefs 24.

3:35 The Chiefs win the toss and defer. The 49ers will receive the opening kickoff.

FIRST QUARTER

3:44 On 1st and 10 from the Chiefs 29, Brock Purdy hands off to Christian McCaffrey, who fumbles. Kansas City recovers at their 27. Leo Chenal poked it out and George Karlaftis recovered the football.

3:48 First play of the drive, the 49ers load the box and stop Isiah Pacheco for a loss of 3. Then on 3rd and 12, Mahomes throws a short pass to Jerick McKinnon and the Chiefs go 3 and out. Great start for the 49ers defense. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 25.

3:57 Trent Williams commits a false start and a hold on back to back plays. Then on 3rd and 19 from the 49ers 33, Purdy completes a 12-yard pass to Deebo Samuel, and the 49ers punt. After a short return, the Chiefs take over at their 11.

4:03 First play of the drive, the Chiefs line up with 3 wide receivers on the field and hand off to Pacheco who gains 11 yards. But on the next play, the Chiefs pass and Chase Young sacks Patrick Mahomes for a loss of 5. The Chiefs punt a few plays later and the 49ers take over at their 17. Extremely impressed with the 49ers defense so far.

SECOND QUARTER

4:18 On 3rd and 14 from the Chiefs 37, Brock Purdy throws deep into the end zone for Deebo Samuel but the pass is broken up by Trent McDuffie. Then Jake Moody nails a 55-yard field goal.

49ers 3, Chiefs 0.

4:25 On 1st and 10 from the Chiefs 38, Mahomes completes a 53-yard pass to Mecole Hardman. Next play on 1st and goal from the 9, Deommodore Lenoir strips the ball from Isiah Pacheco and Javon Hargrave recovers at the Chiefs 8-yard line. Another game-changing play by Lenoir who is becoming a game-changing player.

4:32 On 3rd and 8 from the 49ers 34, Justin Reid and George Karlaftis sack Purdy for a loss of 5. After the punt, the Chiefs take over at their 20.

4:39 First play of the drive, Mahomes tried to spin away from Chase Young and gets flagged for intentional grounding. Then on 3rd and 16, Arik Armstead sacks Mahomes, and the Chiefs go three and out. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 33. What an intense game.

4:43 Dre Greenlaw injured his Achilles during that drive and his return is questionable.

4:49 On 2nd and 10 from the Chiefs 21, Brock Purdy completes a backward pass to Jauan Jennings who throws back across the field to McCaffrey who scores a touchdown. Phenomenal play design and call by Kyle Shanahan, who's calling a great game.

49ers 10, Chiefs 0.

5:08 On 3rd and 5 from the 49ers 9-yard line, Armstead sacks Mahomes for the second time in this game. That was a coverage sack. The 49ers' are playing man-to-man coverage beautifully. And they're doing it without Dre Greenlaw, who's out with an Achilles injury.

5:09 Harrison Butker makes an 18-yard field goal with 20 second left in the first half.

49ers 10, Chiefs 3.

THIRD QUARTER

5:47 On 3rd and 12 from the Chiefs 23. Mahomes forces a pass into double coverage downfield and gets intercepted by Ji'Ayir Brown. The 49ers take over at the Chiefs 44. The 49ers are in total control.

5:50 On 3rd and 15, Purdy scrambles for four yards, and the 49ers go 3 and out. Big missed opportunity. After the punt, the Chiefs take over at their 2.

5:57 On 3rd and 1 from the Chiefs 11, the 49ers stop Pacheco for no gain, and Kansas City goes 3 and out again. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 36. Either we're watching great defense or brutal offense. Hard to tell.

6:04 On 3rd and 11 from the 49ers' 35, Purdy throws an incomplete deep pass intended for George Kittle and the 49ers go 3 and out. Ugly offense. Deebo Samuel was injured on the play. He walked off the field under his own power. After the punt, the Chiefs take over at their 13.

6:12 On 3rd and 8 from the 49ers 41, Mahomes completes a short pass to Pacheco for 2 yards. Then Harrison Butker makes a 57-yard field goal.

49ers 10, Chiefs 6.

6:19 On 3rd and 10 from the 49ers 25, Purdy floats a pass over the middle that nearly gets interepted by Trent McDuffie but Deebo Samuel knocks the ball down. The 49ers go 3 and out again. After the punt, the Chiefs take over at their 27.

6:21 On 3rd and 2 from the Chiefs 35, Bosa flushes Mahomes out of the pocket and forces him to throw the ball away.

6:22 Ray Ray McCloud muffs the punt and the Chiefs recover at the 49ers 16.

6:23 Next play, Mahomes throws a touchdown pass to a wide open Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The 49ers double covered Travis Kelce and didn't cover Valdes-Scantling. What a huge turn in this game.

49ers 10, Chiefs 13.

FOURTH QUARTER

6:40 On 2nd and 9 from the Chiefs 10, Purdy throws a pass underneath to Jauan Jennings who breaks a tackle and scores. He also made a 16-yard catch on 3rd and 10 earlier in the drive. He's having a great game.

6:51 The Chiefs block Jake Moody's extra point attempt. He has now missed a kick in four straight games.

49ers 16, Chiefs 13.

6:52 On 3rd and goal from the 3, Javon Hargrave sacks Patrick Mahomes for a loss of 2. Then Harrison Butker makes a 23-yard field goal to tie the game with 5:46 left.

49ers 16, Chiefs 16.

7:05 On 3rd and 5 from the Chiefs 34, Brock Purdy's pass gets tipped incomplete. Then Jake Moody makes a clutch 53-yard field goal with 1:53 left. Both teams have two timeouts remaining.

49ers 19, Chiefs 16.

7:14 On 1st and 10 from the 49ers 11, Fred Warner breaks up a pass intended for Kelce in the end zone. Then on fourth down, Butker makes a 29-yard field goal to tie the game with 3 seconds left in regulation.

7:17 Purdy takes a knee.