San Francisco 49ers: Rallying for the Upcoming Clash against the Kansas City Chiefs

Looking Back to Move Forward: 49ers vs Chiefs

The San Francisco 49ers, as they gear up to face the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, find themselves revisiting their heartbreaking Super Bowl LVIII defeat. Watching the footage from the 25-22 loss in Las Vegas has unearthed a mix of emotions, but the 49ers are determined to keep their past losses to the Chiefs on the Super Bowl stage separate from their upcoming game at Levi’s Stadium.

“I think everyone understands that we’ve lost two Super Bowls to them so I mean that can give you a little post-traumatic stress when you turn on the tape,” coach Kyle Shanahan admitted. “But I think that’s human nature. 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.”

Unyielding Determination: 49ers Eyeing a Comeback

When the 49ers and Chiefs meet on the field this Sunday, it will have been 252 days since San Francisco’s dreams of a Lombardi Trophy were dashed as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs secured their third championship in four years. The 49ers have seen many changes since then, including the introduction of new personnel, injury-induced absences, and significant departures in free agency.

Despite these changes and the fact that Sunday’s game doesn’t hold the same stakes as the Super Bowl, the 49ers are eager to prove themselves. “It’s not like we can get payback for losing the Super Bowl. That ship has sailed,” tackle Trent Williams said. “New season, new game, new teams, new players. We’re just trying to play up to the best of our ability,” linebacker Fred Warner added.

Facing the Undefeated: The Challenge of Kansas City Chiefs

That doesn’t mean, though, that a win against the 5-0 Chiefs wouldn’t bring extra satisfaction. Since their coach Shanahan took the reins in 2017, the 49ers have yet to secure a win against Kansas City. Their two Super Bowl losses particularly sting, as the Chiefs managed to come back from double-digit deficits.

Adding to the difficulty of the upcoming game is the fact that the Chiefs are well-rested after a Week 6 bye. The 49ers had a “mini bye” after their last Thursday night game but won’t have the same rest advantage. Chiefs coach Andy Reid boasts a 21-4 career record after a team’s bye, the best among head coaches since the bye was introduced in 1990.

Staying Focused: Shanahan’s Approach to the Game

However, regardless of the past, the current 3-3 Niners need a win. Shanahan is trying to instill this mentality in his team. “We’re .500 right now. We want to stay on top of our division and get a win. You think about that stuff going into it but in terms of the way it plays out in the game, it really has no correlation and you try to make sure that it doesn’t,” Shanahan said.

As the 49ers prepare to face the Chiefs, they remain focused on the present, looking to carve out their own path of success in their pursuit of victory.