49ers grades in crushing overtime Super Bowl LVIII loss to Chiefs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
LAS VEGAS — The 49ers picked the wrong team to try to defeat with an imperfect playoff performance.
The Kansas City Chiefs proved once again they have what it takes to win Super Bowls.
Again, the 49ers were unable to get across the finish line.
The 49ers made some critical mistakes and failed to take advantage of numerous opportunities to take control.
They left Patrick Mahomes with enough of an opening for him to make the big plays when needed for a 25-22 overtime victory in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.
“It was small things everywhere, I thought, all three phases,” 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “We did things that weren’t characteristic to what we usually do as a team and I think in the end that’s what hit us and it was too much to overcome.”
Here is the 49ers’ final report card of the season:
Rushing offense
The Chiefs stacked the box to take away Christian McCaffrey, and they largely succeeded. He had 22 rushing attempts for 80 yards, managing just 3.6 yards per rushing attempt.
McCaffrey, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, was responsible for a costly miscue. He fumbled on the 49ers’ first possession after the offense moved the ball inside the Kansas City 30-yard line on just four plays.
That giveaway likely prevented the 49ers seizing momentum from the beginning of the game. The game remained scoreless through one quarter.
Grade: D-plus
Passing offense
The 49ers struggled in two areas in which they were among the best in the league during the regular season. They did not fare well against the blitz and they did not finish enough drives with touchdowns.
“I think we have the team, the offense, to score touchdowns,” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “And I think I failed to put our team in position to do that.”
Purdy completed 23 of 38 pass attempts for 255 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He was…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-grades-crushing-overtime-super-081256626.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2024-02-12 08:12:56
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