.San Francisco’s defense couldn’t stop superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense when it mattered most. The 49ers’ wide receivers struggled to get separation in Kansas City’s zone defense, leading to empty offensive possessions in the second half.
However, sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way.
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Former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith joined KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus” on Friday morning and was asked about San Francisco failing to win the Super Bowl after coming close on multiple occasions over the years and if they have a problem getting over the hump and winning the “big game.”
“It’s a good problem. You can take six plays from this last Super Bowl and if the ball just bounces a different way on one of them, the Niners are holding up the Lombardi,” Smith said. “You got to keep getting opportunities, and there is a certain amount of luck in this, and I think unfortunately they’ve been on the wrong side of it a few times. And Kyle [Shanahan] has been on the wrong side of it even more.
“This kind of sustained success they’re having, that is so rare. It’s so rare, it’s so hard to do and they just need to keep knocking at the door. And they’re going to get it.”
Shanahan, as a coach and offensive coordinator, has been on the losing end of three Super Bowlsafter his team held fourth-quarter leads. Widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the NFL, Shanahan — similar to the early career of former Philadelphia Eagles and current Chiefs coach Andy Reid — has come away empty-handed in the playoffs.
