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Kyle Shanahan spoke confidently all last week about everything thing he learned from his first Super Bowl experience when he was the offensive coordinator of an Atlanta Falcons team that blew a 28-3 lead before losing to the Patriots in historic fashion.
The 49ers coach ran from nothing during the buildup to Super Bowl 54 last week in Miami. He talked about what he learned a lot from that loss, how he had many positive memories from that season, and how that whole experience only made him a stronger person.
I sat there in those press conferences in downtown Miami last week and believed him, too. Shanahan is this offensive mastermind who was ready to put the past behind him for good and make an incredibly loud statement with a his new group of players who were coming off a torching of the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game.
For three and a half quarters on Sunday night it felt like Shanahan was right – that night with the Falcons had changed him. His 49ers held a 10-point lead over the Chiefs midway through the fourth quarter, they had found a way to make Patrick Mahomes look incredibly human all game long, and all they had to do was hold on and the Lombardy Trophy would be theirs.
Instead, though, they coughed up 21 straight points to the Chiefs and somehow lost a game that should have been theirs. Sure, the Chiefs went out there and WON the game… but the 49ers could have – and should have – held on to win in Miami. And yes, the refs could have made some calls go the other way, but things happen and you have to deal with it.
Shanahan now has to deal with being outscored a combined 46-0 in the fourth quarter and OT in his two Super Bowl trips as the OC and now the head coach of the 49ers. If the first loss didn’t leave a bad stink on his shoulders, this second one should, and you have to wonder what that will mean for the 49ers going forward.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s skills are now being questioned by just about everyone who watched the Super Bowl, as his ability to close the game on Sunday was severely lacking. Some are wondering if they can get away from the franchise QB in the next few years, which is shocking because of how much money they threw his way and how much he seemed like a franchise quarterback just a few weeks ago.
Losing Super Bowls in devastating fashion can lead to even more devastation in years to come. Just look at the Falcons – they still haven’t recovered from that loss to the Patriots.
The 49ers are fortunate to have an incredible defense that just couldn’t stop Mahomes from being Mahomes down the stretch, which has happened to a lot of teams this year.
But now you have to wonder what this loss will do to a team that went from 4-12 last year to 13-3 this year. Will it be crushing and lead them back to their losing ways of last season or is this something they will be able to shake off and remain contenders next year.
Right now, it seems like your guess is as good as mine when it comes to the future of the 49ers.
Shanahan seemed to have the world all figured out just a few days ago. Now it has been turned upside down again and there’s no real telling just how easy it will be to straighten things up.
All because they just couldn’t close out a Super Bowl that was theirs to win, which was shocking.
Again.
Monday’s biggest winner: Derrick Nnadi.
The Chiefs defensive tackle is celebrating the team’s Super Bowl victory by helping over 100 rescue dogs at a local shelter in Kansas City. Nnadi got his own rescue dog a few years ago in college and fell in love, with is easy to do if you’ve ever rescued a pup. Now he’s helping more people and dogs feel the same way, which is awesome.
Quick hits: Chiefs fans set off all the fireworks… Chiefs radio calls were so good… Damien Williams’ classy moment… And more!
– Chiefs fans set off so many fireworks Sunday night that they showed up on radar. For real.
– You need to hear the radio calls of the Chiefs winning their first Super Bowl in 50 years.
– This classy moment in the tunnel right after the Super Bowl was easily my favorite moment of the Super Bowl.
– Chiefs fans are roasting Troy Aikman over an old tweet about Mahomes.
– LeSean McCoy’s son wasn’t all that impressed with Paul Rudd.
– LeBron James explained why his All-Star team will be wearing the No. 2.
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