The NFL Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event of the year. In turn, it produces some of the biggest moments in sports history. Those big moments, seen by millions around the world, often produce some of the biggest records in the game. There are some seemingly unbreakable Super Bowl records. However, with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs facing off on Sunday, there is also a chance there are a few Super Bowl records broken.
With the NFL continuing to break records in viewership and money, it makes sense the same will also happen on the field. Here are five Super Bowl records that could be broken in Super Bowl LVIII.
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Predicting 5 Super Bowl Records Broken in 2024
Most Receptions in Super Bowl Game – James White (14)
The Super Bowl record for most receptions in a single performance comes not from a wide receiver nor a tight end, but rather from running back James White. The former Wisconsin Badger had 14 receptions on the back of the New England Patriots’ famous 28-3 comeback against the Atlanta Falcons. White was the featured player on the offense in that game and put together one of the greatest Super Bowl performances ever.
While 14 receptions is a lot, I think that there is one player that has an opportunity to break that in this game — Travis Kelce. Whether you believe it or not, Kelce is still as good as anyone at the tight end position in the NFL, and really as good as anyone at the receiver position. Kelce has already caught 14 passes in a playoff game last season. So, to think that is too many for the first-ballot Hall of Famer is crazy. Over the past three playoff games, Kelce has brought in 23 receptions, with 11 coming in the AFC Championship. Kansas City wants to get Isiah Pacheco going in this game, so 49ers linebackers will have to cheat up on the run. Given that, the middle of the field should be somewhat open for Kelce to work. Add onto that, Kelce has been featured in many screens, and I would imagine he sees at least 14 targets in the Super Bowl.
With Taylor Swift rewriting the record book at the Grammys, why can’t Kelce at the Super Bowl? Could Kyle Shanahan be on the opposing sideline for this record once again?
Longest Completion – Jake Delhomme/Mushin Muhammad (85 yards)
While the Carolina Panther duo’s 85-yard completion is one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history, it seems kind of strange that the longest pass in Super Bowl history has only been 85 yards. At this stage in the NFL’s history, the game has evolved so much that it seems like any play at any time can go the distance. With two teams that are loaded at the skill positions, like the Chiefs and the 49ers are, I can see a play be broken and taken to the house.
Take your pick between Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Rashee Rice. These are some of the fastest players in the league at their respective positions and, with quarterbacks who like to get the ball out fast, it seems like the perfect opportunity for this record to be broken.
Most Drops by a Team – Steelers (6)
Taking the other side of the last two bets that I wrote about, I want to talk about the most drops by a team in the Super Bowl. That came in Super Bowl 30, when Pittsburgh pass catchers dropped six passes against the Dallas Cowboys. This is certainly achievable in this game, as the Kansas City Chiefs led the NFL with 44 drops. That means that over the 17-game regular season, the Chiefs dropped about 2.59 passes per game. If you had to pinpoint one flaw to the Kansas City Chiefs this season, it was obviously the drops. Many of those drops came in big spots. With Kansas City likely to throw the ball around the field for the majority of this game, the odds are in favor of at least three drops and, when you factor in that Kansas City employs Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney, it seems likely that there could be more than three.
Longest Rush in Super Bowl Game – Willie Parker (75 yards)
Similar to the longest completion Super Bowl record, it seems like the longest rush in the Super Bowl is also kind of low. Willie Parker took a rush 75 yards in Super Bowl 40. In the 57 Super Bowls that have been played, it seems kind of strange that the longest rush has only been 75 yards. If you take 57 regular season games, you are sure to get a rush of at least 80 yards. I think that that record can be broken this year, as this Super Bowl features two run-first teams with solid offensive lines and great running backs.
San Francisco, more than Kansas City, wants to get the rushing game going early to help settle Brock Purdy into the big game. With Christian McCaffrey, who may be the best running back since Adrian Peterson, at the helm, it is certainly possible to break a long one. McCaffrey is known for his excellent ability after contact and, with the Chiefs 17th-ranked rushing defense in the regular season, seeing McCaffrey break one is not out of the realm of possibilities.
Career Super Bowl Receptions – Jerry Rice (33)
Playing off of the first Super Bowl record that could be broken above is the career receptions list. Jerry Rice ranks first in career Super Bowl receptions, with 33. Travis Kelce sits in seventh place, with 22. If I think that Kelce can get to that 15-reception mark, that means he breaks the all-time career receptions record as well. As I stated before, I would imagine that San Francisco has to shut down Isiah Pacheco to start the game, which should somewhat expose the middle of the field early for Kelce to pick up a couple of quick receptions over the middle of the field. Adding in his work in the screen game, and 12 receptions is possible.
Looking at the Chiefs’ run in the playoffs, just last game against the Ravens vaunted defense, Kelce brought in 11 receptions. With this being the biggest game of the season, it makes sense that he is the focal point of the offense for the Chiefs.
