Four years are an eternity in the NFL. Rosters and coaching staffs can turn over like tables at IHOP. Still, there are plenty of holdovers from the Chiefs-Niners Super Bowl matchup four years ago in Miami. The Chiefs remember that game as the start of their amazing SB run. The Niners are still smarting from the disappointment of “the one that got away.”
San Francisco blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead, as Kansas City scored 21 unanswered points to turn that big deficit into a 31-20 victory.
Have you forgotten about that game? Kyle Shanahan hasn’t. George Kittle hasn’t. Nick Bosa hasn’t. Deebo Samuel hasn’t. Trent Williams hasn’t.
We—and certainly I—can make too much of “revenge” motives. But not this time, at least in my view. Shanahan in particular is radiating waves of Captain Ahab obsession.
And let’s get this straight. The ‘Niners have a better 53-man roster than do the Chiefs. But that was also the case four years ago, and remember how that turned out.
Still, it disturbs me that the San Francisco defense is highly inconsistent, sometimes crossing the line into “lethargic.” The ‘Niners defensive run-stoppers got destroyed by the Packers and the Lions, particularly in the first halves of those playoff games.
Some candid soul-searching revealed it was not a “scheme” problem. Both Shanahan and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks publicly stated it was a lack of effort on a handful of crucial plays, particularly in the NFC Championship game against the Lions.
A lack of effort? A lack of effort? A lack of effort by NFL professionals? A lack of effort in the NFC Championship, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line?
Give me a moment to pick my jaw up off the table.
The ‘Niners were able to recover from slow starts against Green Bay and Detroit. They don’t dare allow themselves to get left in the starting blocks by the Chiefs.
