The San Francisco 49ers are again within the Tremendous Bowl for the second time below head coach Kyle Shanahan after beating the Detroit Lions, 34-31, in the NFC title sport. Nearly as good because the Niners have been this season, it’s taken perseverance, dedication and slightly luck in these playoffs. They’ve performed with fireplace in each postseason video games, narrowly escaping the Packers and Lions. Now the 49ers have two weeks to scrub up and shut the holes of the earlier two as a result of leaving any opening for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will finish badly.
In fact, San Francisco is aware of this as they discovered just a few years in the past, shedding Tremendous Bowl LIV to Mahomes and the Chiefs after taking a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter. Whereas each groups have modified, a few of the core items are nonetheless in place from their final assembly on the NFL’s greatest stage. Each squads moved on from one among their key gamers in that sport 4 years in the past. Kansas Metropolis parted methods with Tyreek Hill, and Jimmy Garoppolo is now not below middle for San Francisco. And having Christian McCaffrey within the backfield can also be a serious addition for SF.
Regardless of being 4 years faraway from that sport, the Niners who had been on the sector in that first assembly keep in mind how they’d that sport within the bag earlier than it slipped away. So, that first-half efficiency in opposition to the Lions on Sunday received’t reduce it in opposition to Mahomes and Andy Reid in Las Vegas.
San Francisco allowed the Packers to hold round within the divisional spherical, and if not for 2 big-time interceptions by Dre Greenlaw, the NFC Championship Sport would’ve been performed in Detroit. The Niners have gotten off to sluggish begins on offense and protection the previous two weeks. This group has felt the wrath of Mahomes earlier than and is aware of he’s by no means out of any sport with 4 extra years of expertise below his belt.
Nonetheless, that is possible essentially the most welcomed state of affairs for the 49ers, as most groups don’t get this chance. They’ve the possibility to proper what went unsuitable of their final Tremendous Bowl look in opposition to the identical franchise, quarterback and head coach. It’s laborious sufficient to get again, however to additionally return in opposition to the group you understand you must’ve overwhelmed is serendipity.
With that stated, San Francisco can not begin this Tremendous Bowl in sleepwalk mode. Detroit rushed for greater than 130 yards within the first half in opposition to San Fran. If the Niners play like that in opposition to KC, that Reid-Mahomes combo could put them to mattress early. Get behind the Chiefs, 24-7, and it’s more than likely lights out. Brock Purdy might want to make performs, however the 49ers can’t fall into the identical lure as Baltimore. Let McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel carry the offensive load with sprinkles of Purdy mud.
As long as the protection exhibits up and performs constantly all through, the Niners needs to be ready to win the sport. There’ll come a time when Purdy must make a play, however after watching him accomplish that after they needed to have it in opposition to the Lions, there needs to be little question that he can reply the decision. Getting out of the beginning blocks has been San Francisco’s challenge within the final two contests. Fixing that’s the key to them bringing residence Vince Lombardi’s trophy for a sixth time.