SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for a rare regular-season rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs, eight months after their heartbreaking loss in the Super Bowl. Memories of key plays by Chris Jones, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce in the Chiefs' 25-22 overtime victory are still fresh in the minds of the Niners as they prepare to host the Chiefs on Sunday.
Coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized the importance of not dwelling on past games, acknowledging the emotional weight of the Super Bowl defeat but stressing that this upcoming game is a new opportunity. This Sunday's matchup will mark the 10th time in NFL history that Super Bowl opponents have faced each other in the following regular season, with the defending champion historically holding a 6-3 record in those games.
The 49ers are focused on learning from their previous encounter with the Chiefs while understanding that a regular-season win cannot erase the pain of a Super Bowl loss. Defensive end Nick Bosa highlighted the challenges posed by the Chiefs' potent offense led by Mahomes and the need for the team to study the tape for insights.
The loss in February was particularly painful for the 49ers, who squandered multiple opportunities to secure their first championship since 1994. Despite building an early lead and holding multiple leads in the fourth quarter and overtime, the Niners were unable to contain Mahomes and the Chiefs when it mattered most.
Key plays, such as missed third-down passes and an inability to stop Mahomes on crucial downs, continue to haunt the team. Reflecting on those moments, players like Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner acknowledged the need to improve in critical situations and emphasized the importance of analyzing the game as a whole.
As the 49ers prepare for the rematch, they are dealing with various injuries on the roster. Kicker Matthew Wright, wide receiver Jauan Jennings, and defensive tackle Maliek Collins were among the players who did not practice due to injuries. Several other players were limited in practice, including running back Jordan Mason, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, and safety Malik Mustapha.
The team signed kicker Anders Carlson to the practice squad as insurance in case Wright is unable to play. Despite the challenges, the 49ers remain focused on their upcoming showdown with the Chiefs, aiming to learn from past mistakes and secure a crucial victory on Sunday.
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