Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Super Bowl Loss Still Stings for the 49ers Headed Into Rematch Against the Chiefs
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 2 hours ago on
October 17, 2024

Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs the ball past 49ers defensive back Deommodore Lenoir (2) in NFL Super Bowl 58 football game, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP/Doug Benc)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SANTA CLARA — Eight months later, the pain of losing a second Super Bowl in five seasons to the Kansas City Chiefs has barely subsided for the San Francisco 49ers as they prepare for a rare regular-season rematch.

Memories of Chris Jones blowing up key plays with pressure, Patrick Mahomes creating plays with his arm and feet, and Travis Kelce getting open in key spots in Kansas City’s 25-22 overtime win are hard to avoid as the Niners (3-3) watch tape of that game back in February in preparation for a visit from the Chiefs (5-0) on Sunday.

“Everyone understands that we’ve lost the two Super Bowls to them. So I mean, that can give a little post-traumatic stress when you turn on the tape,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday. “I think that’s human nature. But you’ve got to make sure you don’t get caught up in that. This game has nothing to do with past games, that was last year.”

Rare Super Bowl Rematch in Regular Season

The game on Sunday marks the 10th time in NFL history the teams that met in the Super Bowl played again in the following regular season, with the defending champion going 6-3 in those games.

The 49ers don’t want to dwell on that game and know a regular-season win won’t make up for a Super Bowl loss. But they also can’t avoid rewatching it in search of any tips that can help them this week.

“It’s definitely a little emotional,” defensive end Nick Bosa said. “But at this point, it’s just a game so we’re just looking at the tape, trying to learn from it. A lot of similarities from last year. A few new guys, but a really good defense and an offense obviously has No. 15 (Mahomes) back there. So always dangerous.”

Missed Opportunities Haunt 49ers

The loss in February stings in part because the 49ers had so many opportunities to come away with the franchise’s first championship since the 1994 season.

San Francisco built a 10-0 advantage early and held three leads in the fourth quarter and overtime that Mahomes and the Chiefs were able to erase and eventually overcome thanks to coming up big in key moments.

Kansas City got pressure on Brock Purdy to force two key third-down incompletions that forced field goals in the fourth quarter and overtime. Kelce got loose for a 22-yard gain that set up a tying field goal at the end of regulation. Mahomes converted a fourth-and-1 keeper in overtime to extend a drive that ended with his game-ending TD pass to Mecole Hardman.

The most painful plays are the missed third-down pass at the end of regulation that Purdy said this summer still bothers him since it gave Kansas City time to tie the game and the inability to stop Mahomes on that fourth-down run.

Lessons Learned from Super Bowl Loss

After San Francisco kicked a field goal on the opening possession of overtime, the Niners could have won it with one stop on fourth-and-1.

Mahomes faked an inside handoff to Isiah Pacheco. Bosa crashed down on that play, which he said was his assignment, and Mahomes rolled to his right. When Logan Ryan stayed with Kelce, Mahomes kept the ball and ran 8 yards for the game-extending first down.

“That was tough especially because we have calls that can negate that,” Bosa said. “They ran the zone read a few times and we just didn’t find an answer to it. I definitely thought he was going to hold it or keep it, but I’ve got to do my job, especially in a big moment like that. … We definitely have a plan for the zone read this time. Hindsight is 20-20.”

Linebacker Fred Warner said there were things San Francisco could have done better to stop that play but added that the game didn’t come down to one snap.

“You want to be great in those critical situations to ultimately to end and win the game, but there are little plays throughout the entire game you could have said, `Aw, that was the one. That could have won it,'” he said. “You’ve got to look at all of them.”

Notes: Fill-in K Matthew Wright (shoulder, back) didn’t practice. The Niners signed Anders Carlson to the practice squad this week for insurance. … WR Jauan Jennings (hip) and DT Maliek Collins (knee) didn’t practice. … RB Jordan Mason (shoulder), WR Deebo Samuel (wrist), DT Jordan Elliott (knee), S Malik Mustapha (ankle) and CB Darrell Luter (pelvis) were all limited.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Big Tech’s Energy Needs Mean Nuclear Power Is Getting a Fresh Look From Electricity Providers

DON'T MISS

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Drifts Around Its Records as the US Economy Keeps Humming

DON'T MISS

Fresno City Council Candidates Richardson and Bonakdar Discuss Rent Control, Prop 33

DON'T MISS

Hunger Experts Say the Risk of Famine in Gaza Remains High

DON'T MISS

Disney Debuts Lightning Lane Premier Pass This Month, Some Guests May Have Sticker Shock

DON'T MISS

LeBron and Bronny Prepare for Historic Family Pairing, Lakers Shrug off the Critics

DON'T MISS

Helene and Milton Are Both Likely to Be $50 Billion Disasters, Joining Ranks of Most Costly Storms

DON'T MISS

Israel’s Foreign Minister Confirms That Hamas’ Top Leader Yahya Sinwar Was Killed in Gaza

DON'T MISS

Chiefs Owner Backs Kicker Harrison Butker Forming PAC Supporting ‘Traditional Values’

DON'T MISS

Archdiocese of Los Angeles Agrees to Pay $880 Million to Settle Sex Abuse Claims

UP NEXT

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Drifts Around Its Records as the US Economy Keeps Humming

UP NEXT

Fresno City Council Candidates Richardson and Bonakdar Discuss Rent Control, Prop 33

UP NEXT

Hunger Experts Say the Risk of Famine in Gaza Remains High

UP NEXT

Disney Debuts Lightning Lane Premier Pass This Month, Some Guests May Have Sticker Shock

UP NEXT

LeBron and Bronny Prepare for Historic Family Pairing, Lakers Shrug off the Critics

UP NEXT

Helene and Milton Are Both Likely to Be $50 Billion Disasters, Joining Ranks of Most Costly Storms

UP NEXT

Israel’s Foreign Minister Confirms That Hamas’ Top Leader Yahya Sinwar Was Killed in Gaza

UP NEXT

Chiefs Owner Backs Kicker Harrison Butker Forming PAC Supporting ‘Traditional Values’

UP NEXT

Archdiocese of Los Angeles Agrees to Pay $880 Million to Settle Sex Abuse Claims

UP NEXT

Phillips 66 to Close LA Refinery After New California Oil Law

Hunger Experts Say the Risk of Famine in Gaza Remains High

23 mins ago

Disney Debuts Lightning Lane Premier Pass This Month, Some Guests May Have Sticker Shock

29 mins ago

LeBron and Bronny Prepare for Historic Family Pairing, Lakers Shrug off the Critics

30 mins ago

Helene and Milton Are Both Likely to Be $50 Billion Disasters, Joining Ranks of Most Costly Storms

44 mins ago

Israel’s Foreign Minister Confirms That Hamas’ Top Leader Yahya Sinwar Was Killed in Gaza

53 mins ago

Chiefs Owner Backs Kicker Harrison Butker Forming PAC Supporting ‘Traditional Values’

1 hour ago

Archdiocese of Los Angeles Agrees to Pay $880 Million to Settle Sex Abuse Claims

1 hour ago

Phillips 66 to Close LA Refinery After New California Oil Law

1 hour ago

Visalia School Lockdown Ends After Man with Airsoft Gun Arrested

1 hour ago

Electoral Battleground North Carolina Starts Early In-Person Voting While Recovering From Helene

1 hour ago

Big Tech’s Energy Needs Mean Nuclear Power Is Getting a Fresh Look From Electricity Providers

NEW YORK — Nuclear power is garnering renewed attention amid growing demand for power and cleaner energy. The power source has seen a resurg...

2 mins ago

2 mins ago

Big Tech’s Energy Needs Mean Nuclear Power Is Getting a Fresh Look From Electricity Providers

8 mins ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Drifts Around Its Records as the US Economy Keeps Humming

23 mins ago

Fresno City Council Candidates Richardson and Bonakdar Discuss Rent Control, Prop 33

23 mins ago

Hunger Experts Say the Risk of Famine in Gaza Remains High

Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
29 mins ago

Disney Debuts Lightning Lane Premier Pass This Month, Some Guests May Have Sticker Shock

30 mins ago

LeBron and Bronny Prepare for Historic Family Pairing, Lakers Shrug off the Critics

44 mins ago

Helene and Milton Are Both Likely to Be $50 Billion Disasters, Joining Ranks of Most Costly Storms

53 mins ago

Israel’s Foreign Minister Confirms That Hamas’ Top Leader Yahya Sinwar Was Killed in Gaza

Search

Send this to a friend