FOLSOM, Calif. — Folsom native and one of this season’s starting quarterbacks for the Cincinnati Bengals, Jake Browning, is not going to Super Bowl LVIII.
The San Francisco 49ers clinched their Super Bowl spot Sunday in a comeback 34-31 victory against the Detroit Lions. They will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the big game Feb. 11.
Browning, 27, attended Super Bowl LVI with the Bengals on Feb. 13, 2022, in which they lost to the Los Angeles Rams 23-20.
He said he'll be hanging out with family in Folsom on Super Bowl weekend this year rooting only for a good game between the 49ers and Chiefs because the Bengals aren’t in it.
“I think you just want it to be a close game that comes down to the end, comes down to overtime or a two-minute drive,” he said. “I’ll just be rooting for whoever's losing.”
Browning’s takes on Chiefs, 49ers
Browning led the Bengals during their 25-17 loss to the Chiefs on Dec. 31, 2023.
He replaced Joe Burrow as the Bengals’ starting quarterback on Nov. 17, 2023, after Burrow tore a ligament in his right wrist during a 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, ABC 10 previously reported.
In an interview with ABC10 on Monday, Browning said the Chiefs will render an opposing team’s offense ineffective.
“I think they do a really good job scheme-wise of taking away what an offense does well, making you move the ball up and down the field and (scoring) points while taking away those main threats,” he said.
He specifically mentioned the skill of eight-year Chiefs veteran Chris Jones.
“They're good,” Browning said. “They have very good defense.”
In the New Year’s Eve game, Browning threw two touchdowns while Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw one. The Chiefs won the game by scoring six consecutive field goals.
“He won, so I think he gets the last laugh,” Browning said.
In offense terms, Browning acknowledged 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was coined “Mr. Irrelevant” in 2022 when he was the last pick in the NFL draft.
“There's some hidden talent in quarterback rooms just because there's only one that goes on the field at a time,” Browning said. “I think that kind of showed this year with all the different backup quarterbacks playing.”
Browning spoke highly of Purdy ahead of the Super Bowl.
“I would argue he’s their franchise guy,” he said.
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The Super Bowl experience
While the Bengals did not make it to the playoffs this year, Browning went with the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2022.
He said the process of training for a Super Bowl feels a little bit different.
“You have two weeks,” Browning said. “You go down there for a couple of days before, and you're practicing away from your own facility.”
He said a Super Bowl’s standard operating procedure can make it tough to emotionally stay in the game.
“Every commercial break is longer,” he said. “Everything just feels much longer and is much more of a production, and staying in that zone of being ready to play can be a little bit of a challenge just because it's so much different.”
He said the NFL players do not see the halftime shows because they are in the locker rooms getting talked to.
There are theories pop star Taylor Swift will attend the Super Bowl because Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, her boyfriend, will no doubt be a colossal presence on the field during the game.
Swift would have to leave Tokyo soon after an Eras Tour performance on Feb. 10 to make it to Vegas roughly 24 hours before kickoff.
“I’m not a Swiftie,” Browning said. “I believe my girlfriend is. Those are headphones songs. I think she just listens to those in the headphones.”
