Super Bowl LVIII guide for Cincinnati Bengals fans

A rematch of Super Bowl LIV is not what Cincinnati Bengals fans had in mind for Super Bowl LVIII.

The last time the San Francisco 49ers met the Kansas City Chiefs in The Big Game in 2020, media outlets were pondering whether or not Joe Burrow would be willing to even play for the Bengals following their worst season in neatly 20 years. 2020 isn't a year worth looking back on anyways, to be fair.

While it's not the most compelling matchup we could've asked for, especially for Bengals fans, it's the Super Bowl and you're going to watch it. If you're making other plans for this evening, cool! If you're the other 99% of the population and rep the Bengals, here's what you need to know.

Who to root for

This honestly may depend on your age, as the Bengals have beef with both franchises in different generations.

The 1980s were very good to the Bengals, though the decade was just short of great. Cincinnati represented the AFC in Super Bowl XVI in 1982, and Super Bowl XXIII in 1989.

Their opponent was the same both times: the 49ers. The outcome was also the same: the 49ers winning. 

Led by former Bengals head coach Bill Walsh and Joe Montana at quarterback, San Francisco won both Super Bowls by a combined nine points. The Bengals had an MVP at quarterback in both games, but couldn't stand in the Niners' way of owning the decade. They won a total four titles from the 1981-89.

So, if you remember those games a little bit over and under 40 years ago, you may feel more will ng to support the Chiefs. If you're rather new to the Bengals, that may feel like a crime.

The Bengals and Chiefs have gone back and forth over the past three seasons, with the Bengals winning the first three matchups and the Chiefs winning the last two. The Chiefs have made four of the last five Super Bowls, and they have the Bengals to blame for not going five-for-five. Both teams are 1-1 against each other in the AFC Championship.

Animosity here exists for different reasons. Cincinnati doesn't like Kansas City always being the final step towards making it to February, and Kansas City doesn't like Cincinnati being its most challenging adversary to establishing a true dynasty. 

Three of the Chiefs' 15 losses since the 2021 regular season have come from the Bengals. Only the Buffalo Bills have won as many games against the Chiefs, but they've yet to beat them in the playoffs. The Bengals are the only team to do so other than two teams quarterbacked by Tom Brady. 

Speaking of quarterbacks, the media has tried very hard to pin Mahomes as this generation's Brady and Burrow has the best case for being his Manning. The relationship between Mahomes and Burrow is very respectful despite the hatred between both teams.

For those who stan Burrow the hardest, you may not want to see Mahomes hoist another Lombardi and increase his legacy lead over Burrow. Maybe you only Mahomes win if Burrow doesn't. It's perhaps the grayest area when breaking this game down from an Orange and Black perspective.

Former Bengals in the game

Theres's only one, and there's a minuscule chance he even steps on the field. 49ers backup quarterback Brandon Allen held the same position with the Bengals from 2020-22, playing in 12 games and starting six. Allen is one of two reserves behind Brock Purdy, whom is attempting to become the first "Mr. Irrelevant" (the last pick of his draft class) to win a Super Bowl as a starting QB. 

For the sake of it being a good game, let's hope Allen doesn't take any snaps.

There are no former Bengals on the Chiefs, though the inverse obviously isn't true. Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. exchanged Kansas City for Cincinnati last offseason, and his replacement, Donovan Smith, has been average at best. Brown didn't have his best season either in 2023.

If you want to really stretch it, Chiefs left guard Joe Thuney is from the Dayton area, which is about an hour north of Cincinnati, and safety Bryan Cook played at the University of Cincinnati. Neither will play in this game due to injuries, unfortunately. 

Joe Burrow's Super Bowl ad

Oh yeah, we should mention Burrow will appear on screen at some point during the night. 

Burrow will be featured in BodyArmor's first ever Super Bowl ad along with 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, USA women's soccer star Alex Morgan, and more: