One of the largest cultural events in America is drawing near. Sunday in Glendale Arizona, the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles for the Super Bowl LVII trophy. 

These teams are positively stacked with talent in all phases of the game, and even if you only tune in for the commercials or the halftime show, no one can deny the impact that the game itself will have on the legacy of football. Newcomer vs established superteam, the number 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC will play one final game to decide it all. Let’s recap last week’s predictions, then set ourselves up for Sunday night.

AFC Championship Game: Kansas City Chiefs 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20

The official CalTimes prediction of a Chiefs victory proved to be correct, as MVP-favorite Patrick Mahomes scratched and clawed his way past a Bengals team that seemingly had most fans behind them. 87% of all bets on Fanduel Sportsbook were on the Bengals to either cover the spread or win the game. Despite all that, Kansas City took care of business, and Andy Reid is heading back to the big game for the fourth time in his long career. Mahomes finished the game with 326 yards and 2 touchdown passes, going 29/43 on pass attempts. The game was certainly pass-centric for the Chiefs, whose leading rusher for the game, Isaiah Pacheco, only carried the ball 10 times for 26 yards.

Chiefs players knew going in that Cincinnati was the betting favorite, and the disrespect of being perceived as an underdog in their own stadium proved to be too much for Joe Burrow and company to overcome. They’ll return to the drawing board, ready for another deep run next season, as all signs are pointing to the Bengals being an AFC powerhouse for the foreseeable future.

NFC Championship: Philadelphia Eagles 31, San Francisco 49ers 7

This certainly was an ugly one in the City of Brotherly Love. Once again, the CalTimes prediction was true, though we definitely expected less of a bloodbath. San Francisco just couldn’t keep up, though they have a valid excuse. Quarterback Brock Purdy was pulled from the game for an injury to his throwing arm, and longtime veteran and backup Josh Johnson was quickly inserted.

While Johnson has 15 seasons of experience in the NFL, more than most active players, he had never played in a playoff game until Sunday. Clearly unprepared, the offense sputtered and died en route to a blowout. Even with controversial calls made by the officials going in the Eagles’s favor, the game couldn’t be blamed on the referees. The game quickly devolved into a snoozefest domination by a decidedly scary Philly squad. Quarterback Jalen Hurts didn’t have to accomplish much, going 15/25, 125 passing yards and no touchdowns, though he did rush for a score in the 3rd quarter. It was the Philly rushing attack that put the 49ers away for good, with 148 total yards spread out between four different players. All four of Philadelphia’s touchdowns came on the ground, fitting for a team so dedicated to the explosive run game.

Super Bowl Matchup

Finally, after hundreds of games, thousands of points, plenty of missed calls, and a hefty dose of injury, the NFL will be closing for the season. Both Super Bowl participants have been discussed at length in our NFL Championship Round Predictions story last week, so please refer to that for an in depth look at the season performance of both clubs. For now, let’s take a look at the game this Sunday between the Chiefs and the Eagles.

Much to the liking of the NFL, this game is poised to be an offensive showcase, a reference to the future of the league. The Over/Under betting prop is currently set at around 50-52 total points, but many fans are expecting this game to have scoring in the 30s for both teams. Firepower like Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Hurts, and AJ Brown have been nearly impossible to contain all season, putting up historically great numbers and passing the eye-test by a mile. Each squad’s offensive system is sustainable in the modern NFL, and the defensive units on either side have been good, but nothing special (save for the outrageous 70 sacks that the Eagles piled up over the course of the regular season). Truly, these teams are offensive-minded, aggressive, and stubborn. Look for the game to start slowly as Philadelphia drains the clock with long drives focused on the running game. Mahomes will have to pull some late-game magic to seal a win, and Jalen Hurts will be required to put the team on his back and use his legs if Philly has any chance of a victory. Mahomes’ mobility will most likely be the key to the game. It will be up to Mahomes to extend plays and create space for his receivers (though Travis Kelce doesn’t need much).

On the defensive side of the ball, this game will be similar to many others: a war of attrition found in the line of scrimmage. The defensive line of both units have been the highlight of the defenses, while the secondary coverage has been just decent at best. Philadelphia’s defensive line has been nothing short of ferocious all year long, and they’ll be looking to contain Mahomes to the short passing game. As for Kansas City, key players like Frank Clark and Chris Jones are almost guaranteed to step up when it matters most, and keep Jalen Hurts from converting crucial third downs on the ground. Hurts, going up against possibly the best quarterback on Earth, will have to rely on his throwing ability to bail him out of some sticky situations.

Finally, the official CalTimes Super Bowl prediction. We went 2 for 2 last week, let’s keep that going!

Super Bowl LVII: Kansas City Chiefs 32, Philadelphia Eagles 28

For all you betters out there, this one will surely have you sweating.

Patrick Mahomes wins his second Super Bowl in four seasons, setting the Chiefs up for a potential dynasty discussion. The game is won in the last 2 minutes by Travis Kelce’s 2nd touchdown grab of the day. Philadelphia will have to commit to the long passing game with less than 60 seconds left, but a game sealing incomplete pass will crown the Chiefs as champions. After such a dominant performance, Kelce will be named as Super Bowl MVP over Mahomes, which will serve as much-needed drama heading into the offseason. Andy Reid climbs the coaching ranks and cements himself firmly into the GOAT debate, while Mahomes continues his dominance over the sport.

Philadelphia will have nothing to be ashamed of as they board the plane home, having fought hard and showcased how good they really are, but still falling just short. Jalen Hurts will have an impressive statline, to the tune of 170 yards passing and 60 yards rushing with multiple touchdown throws. However, he’ll throw a costly interception and give the Chiefs easy points. Teams always seem unstoppable at the end of a season, but this year especially seems like we may have a Super Bowl rematch in 2024.

Enjoy the game everyone!