After 256 regular-season games and 10 playoff games, the Super Bowl 54 matchup is set. At the end of the NFL's 100th season, it's fitting that the Super Bowl in 2020 features two of the league's most prominent and historically relevant teams.
The 49ers will play the Chiefs in this year's Super Bowl, marking the first time they've met in the big game. To reach this point, San Francisco pounded Green Bay in the NFC championship game a few hours after Kansas City handled Tennessee in the AFC title game.
The 49ers entered the NFL playoffs in 2020 as the No. 1 seed in the NFC after finishing the regular season 13-3. Coach Kyle Shanahan, whose father Mike won Super Bowls 32 and 33 as coach of the Broncos, is now part of the first father-son duo to each appear in a Super Bowl as a head coach in NFL history.
As great as San Francisco was throughout 2019, though, its reaching the Super Bowl is something of a surprise considering it went from 4-12 last season to a division title. Kansas City's run wasn't much of a surprise.
The Chiefs reached the AFC championship game for the second consecutive season, the first time they had done that in franchise history. They're finally back in the Super Bowl for the first time in exactly 50 years.
Below is all you need to know about this year's Super Bowl matchup, including the odds and spread for 49ers vs. Chiefs.
Who is in the Super Bowl 2020?
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The teams that were the favorites to win their respective conference championship games took care of business Sunday and advanced to Super Bowl 54.
The last time the 49ers met the Chiefs was Week 3 of the 2018 season. San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the fourth quarter of that game, which in part led to the 49ers falling to 4-12 and earning the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
That was a blessing in disguise. With that selection, San Francisco added defensive end Nick Bosa, who immediately contributed with a season that earned him Sporting News' Rookie of the Year award for 2019. Bosa is now part of a dominant defense that allowed just 281.8 yards per game in the regular season, second best in the NFL.
Over the next couple weeks as Super Bowl 54 approaches, much will be made of the matchup between that defense and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the reigning NFL MVP.
With his three touchdown passes against the Titans in the AFC championship game, Mahomes tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner (11) for the most TD passes through a player's first four career playoff games in NFL history. He did that a week after becoming the first player with at least 300 passing yards, five touchdown passes and 50 rushing yards in a single postseason game in NFL history.
We're in for a good one.
When & where is Super Bowl 54?
- Date: Monday, Feb. 3
- Kickoff time: 9:30 p.m. AEDT(unofficial)
- TV network: 7Mate
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The Super Bowl in 2020, the game that will crown an NFL champion for the 2019 season, is scheduled to take place Sunday, Feb. 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The official kickoff time will be determined at a later date, but the ballpark of 6:30 p.m. ET has become the traditional start time for the Super Bowl.
Every Super Bowl since 2003 has taken place during the first week of February. From 1967-2003, all but one Super Bowl took place in January.
The Super Bowl in 2020 will mark the second time a Super Bowl has been played on Feb. 2. On the same date six years ago, the Seahawks dominated the Broncos in New York to win Super Bowl 48.
The stadium, home to both the Miami Dolphins and the Miami Hurricanes, was selected as the host venue for the Super Bowl in 2020 in part because of its warm location, but also because of recent renovations. The NFL made South Florida the host of Super Bowl 54 back in 2016, when Miami competed against Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa and Los Angeles to secure the big game and when Hard Rock Stadium's renovation project was completed.
Super Bowl 54 betting odds (via Sportsbet)
| TEAM | BETTING ODDS | HANDICAP | TOTAL POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | $2.02 | (+1.5) $1.90 | Over (+53.5) $1.94 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | $1.79 | (-1.5) $1.90 | Under (+53.5) $1.86 |
(Bettings odds correct as of January 20)
Because the 49ers had no trouble with the Packers in the NFC championship game, opening odds for Super Bowl 54 actually were posted during the second half of the game in San Francisco.
The Chiefs opening as slight favorites over the 49ers in the Super Bowl is consistent with Kansas City entering championship weekend as the favorite among the four teams that were still alive.
How many times have the 49ers been to the Super Bowl?
The 49ers have appeared in six Super Bowls and have won five.
Below are all of their appearances, including their latest, which also happens to mark their only loss in the big game.
| Season | Super Bowl opponent | Result | Regular-season record | Head coach |
| 1981 | Bengals | W, 26-21 | 13-3 | Bill Walsh |
| 1984 | Dolphins | W, 38-16 | 15-1 | Bill Walsh |
| 1988 | Bengals | W, 20-16 | 10-6 | Bill Walsh |
| 1989 | Broncos | W, 55-10 | 14-2 | George Seifert |
| 1994 | Chargers | W, 49-26 | 13-3 | George Seifert |
| 2012 | Ravens | L, 34-31 | 11-4-1 | Jim Harbaugh |
San Francisco has had many chances to increase its number of Super Bowl appearances. The 49ers have lost in the NFC championship game nine times.
How many times have the Chiefs been to the Super Bowl?
The Chiefs have appeared in two Super Bowls and have come away victorious just once.
Below are the details of both of their appearances.
| Season | Super Bowl opponent | Result | Regular-season record | Head coach |
| 1966 | Packers | L, 35-10 | 11-2-1 | Hank Stram |
| 1969 | Vikings | W, 23-7 | 11-3 | Hank Stram |
Kansas City has had other chances to increase its number of Super Bowl appearances. The Chiefs have lost in the AFC championship game twice, including last season's defeat at the hands of New England.