Chiefs vs. 49ers (-2)

Four years hence, again, Niners and Chiefs
Reuniting with shocking rapidity
Last victories were beyond beliefs
Due to Ravens’ and Lions’ stupidity

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) fumbles into the end zone for a touchback against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Last year’s champs often tested believers
Chiefs appeared to be heading for fall
Mostly ‘cause most of KC’s receivers
Proved unable to catch a football

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) drops a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)

San Fran worked its way down to Vegas
Without ever needing to gamble
49ers, most certainly blessed:
Their last foe was coached by Dan Campbell

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell speaks at a news conference after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

CBS will be easy to blame
When diehard footballers are miffed
Seven hours of tedious pregame
With most every camera on Swift

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift kiss after an AFC Championship NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. The Kansas City Chiefs won 17-10. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Niners thrived with their Purdy-good star
Breezing easily through most of their games
But Sunday they’ll only go so far
With a last-draft-pick QB from Ames

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is sacked and fumbles by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

This year, Chiefs were far from perfection
But their playoff run’s been pretty nice
The Mahomes-to-Kelce connection
Will hit paydirt once, if not twice

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates a touchdown catch by tight end Travis Kelce (87) during the first half of an AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The Niners will try hard to rally
As muscles and other parts clench
But herculean efforts will dally
With star or two hurt on the bench

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, bottom, is checked as he lays on the ground during the first half of of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

For Reid, another Lombardi snared
He’s the number one coach for a reason
To Belichick, he will be compared
‘Cept HE has a job for next season

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick meet at midfield after an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won 27-20. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Pick: Chiefs 34, 49ers 31

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl 57 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)

Record

Week 21
0-2 straight up
1-1 vs. spread

Playoffs
6-6 straight up
6-6 vs. spread

Season
174-110 straight up (.613)
141-143 vs. spread (.496)

All-time (2003-24)
3630-2020-14 straight up (.642)
2759-2761-144 vs spread (.500)

Coming Monday
Our extra-special Loop Ten countdown of all things Super Bowl LVIII.

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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