Eight months after their gut-wrenching Super Bowl defeat, the San Francisco 49ers once again prepare to face their nemesis, the Kansas City Chiefs. The pain of losing their second Super Bowl in five years to the Chiefs still lingers for the 49ers, and this regular-season rematch offers them a chance to rewrite the script. With both teams coming into the game with distinct motivations, it’s more than just another game on the schedule.
Painful Memories of the Super Bowl Loss
The 49ers’ Super Bowl defeat was brutal, with standout moments still fresh in their minds. Chris Jones’ disruptive defensive presence, Patrick Mahomes’ ability to make plays with both his arms and legs, and Travis Kelce’s knack for finding openings in crucial moments left a lasting mark. Kansas City’s 25-22 overtime victory in Super Bowl LVIII is not something the 49ers can easily forget.
Coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the emotional weight heading into this game, stating, “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.”
Though Shanahan is urging his team to focus on the present, he understands that these lingering emotions can’t simply be brushed aside. Sunday’s contest marks only the 10th time in NFL history that two teams who met in a Super Bowl face off in the following regular season. Interestingly, the defending champions have won six out of nine of those matchups.
Reviewing the Tape: Lessons From the Loss
While the 49ers are looking to move past their Super Bowl heartbreak, there’s no denying that the tape from that February showdown offers valuable insights. Defensive end Nick Bosa echoed these sentiments, explaining that although it’s “a little emotional,” they are reviewing the footage to learn and adapt.
“It’s just a game at this point, so we’re looking at the tape, trying to learn from it,” Bosa said. “A lot of similarities from last year. A few new guys, but a really good defense and obviously No. 15 (Mahomes) back there. Always dangerous.”
One of the most frustrating aspects of the Super Bowl loss was the fact that the 49ers had plenty of chances to seal the game. They held a 10-0 lead early on and took three different leads in the fourth quarter and overtime. However, Mahomes and the Chiefs found a way to erase those advantages and come through in the clutch.
Key Moments That Defined the Super Bowl
Several key plays still haunt the 49ers, as their defense struggled to contain Mahomes when it mattered most. The Chiefs applied relentless pressure on Brock Purdy, forcing him to miss two crucial third-down passes, which ultimately led to field goals instead of touchdowns. Travis Kelce’s 22-yard gain in the closing moments of regulation set up a tying field goal, while Mahomes’ fourth-and-1 conversion in overtime paved the way for his game-winning touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman.
Purdy has admitted that the missed third-down pass late in the game continues to bother him, as it allowed the Chiefs to tie the game. Similarly, the inability to stop Mahomes on the fourth-and-1 run remains a sore point for the team. After kicking a field goal on their first possession of overtime, the 49ers were just one defensive stop away from securing the win.
Mahomes’ Game-Winning Play
One of the most memorable plays from that Super Bowl was Mahomes’ fourth-down scramble in overtime. He faked an inside handoff to Isiah Pacheco, and as Nick Bosa crashed down, Mahomes kept the ball and ran for 8 yards to convert the critical first down. This extended the drive and allowed Kansas City to win the game shortly thereafter.
“That was tough because we have calls that could’ve negated that,” Bosa admitted. “They ran the zone read a few times, and we didn’t find an answer. I thought he’d hold it, but I’ve got to do my job in those moments. We definitely have a plan for the zone read this time.”
Linebacker Fred Warner also reflected on how there were many moments throughout the game that could have changed the outcome. “You want to be great in those critical situations to end and win the game,” Warner said, “but there are little plays throughout the entire game where you could say, ‘That was the one.’ You’ve got to look at all of them.”
Chiefs as Underdogs: Mahomes Thrives in the Underdog Role
Despite their Super Bowl victory, the Chiefs come into Sunday’s rematch as 1.5-point underdogs, a position in which Patrick Mahomes tends to excel. Historically, Mahomes thrives when underestimated by oddsmakers. His 10-3 career record when the Chiefs are underdogs highlights his ability to rise to the occasion in such situations.
When Mahomes first started in the NFL, it took the betting world a while to catch up to his brilliance. In his first few seasons, the Chiefs often entered games as underdogs, only for Mahomes to lead them to victories. From his rookie season in 2017—where he led Kansas City to a 27-24 win over the Broncos despite being 3-point underdogs—to the most recent Super Bowl victory, Mahomes consistently defies expectations.
Mahomes’ Track Record as an Underdog
In 2018, Mahomes led the Chiefs to victories as underdogs in both Week 1 and Week 2. In 2019, he was only an underdog once, defeating the Patriots by 7 points. By 2020, Mahomes had solidified his status as a dominant force, leading the Chiefs to a 14-point win against the Ravens when the team was a 3.5-point underdog.
In the 2022 season, Mahomes led Kansas City to a 10-point win against Tampa Bay despite being 1-point underdogs, and though they lost by 4 points to Buffalo as 2.5-point underdogs, that marked the only time a bet on Mahomes as an underdog resulted in a loss.
The 49ers’ Path to Victory
While Mahomes’ record as an underdog is impressive, the 49ers are determined to rewrite the narrative. They’ve spent months dissecting the tape and preparing for this rematch, understanding that beating the Chiefs requires more than just execution in critical moments.
One of the key adjustments the 49ers have made is in defending the zone-read play that Mahomes exploited so effectively in the Super Bowl. With Mahomes’ ability to improvise, the 49ers must remain disciplined on defense and avoid overcommitting to any one player.
The return of key players on both sides of the ball will be crucial for San Francisco. While injuries have been a concern, the team is hoping to have its full complement of playmakers available for this high-stakes rematch.
Injury Report
The 49ers are dealing with several injury concerns heading into Sunday’s game. Fill-in kicker Matthew Wright (shoulder, back) didn’t practice, and the team has signed Anders Carlson to the practice squad for insurance. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hip) and defensive tackle Maliek Collins (knee) also missed practice, while running back Jordan Mason (shoulder), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (wrist), defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee), safety Malik Mustapha (ankle), and cornerback Darrell Luter (pelvis) were limited participants.
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