A Bridge Too Far - Vegas

A Bridge Too Far - Vegas: A Review

In the early hours of the morning in the UK, the 49ers suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. While the Chiefs' impressive back-to-back Super Bowl victories will be the main narrative in the coming months and years, for the 49ers and their fans, this loss will serve as a painful reminder of how close the margins are in professional sports. It's a familiar sentiment that in sports, you often lose more than you win.

Looking back at the game, both teams struggled in the first quarter, with the Chiefs failing to capitalise on a 49ers turnover. Towards the end of the quarter, the 49ers started to find their rhythm on offense and showed signs of getting a handle on the Chiefs' defense.

In the second quarter, the 49ers managed to finish off a 10-play drive with a field goal. However, they missed an opportunity to capitalise on a Chiefs fumble in their own red zone. The 49ers' defense forced a three-and-out by the Chiefs, and the team went on an impressive 8-play drive, mixing both the run and pass, and finishing with a trick play touchdown. The defense held Mahomes and Andy Reid to just 3 points in the first half, even without Dre Greenlaw, who was injured (something they would of taken at the start of the game).

The tide seemed to turn in the Chiefs' favour in the third quarter. The 49ers' defense forced an interception, but once again, the offense failed to convert the opportunity even though they were on Chiefs 44 yard line. The 49ers called to pass plays, both incomplete and were forced to punt.

The Defence once again forced the Chiefs to punt, and again on the next 49ers drive, the team decided to call three consecutive pass plays, and were forced to punt.

The 49ers had chances to control the game, manage the clock, and put pressure on the Chiefs, but they missed those opportunities, which, in my opinion, was the reason for them losing.

The 4th quarter started with the 49ers finishing off a 12 play drive with 10 yard touchdown pass by Purdy to Jennings. The 49ers had regained the lead, but missed the PAT, which would be critical at the end of the night.

The Chiefs countered with their own 12 play drive, but again the Defence stepped up and held them to just 3 points. The game was tied. With 5.46 left on the clock, Purdy lead the team down the field, it would 2nd and 5, 2.46 left on the clock, rather than calling another run play Shanahan called a pass to Kittle which was incomplete and this to me was the call that could of closed the game out!

The reluctance to run on a short yardage situation was the play that cost us the game. The 49ers ended up kicking a field goal and leaving 1.53 on the clock for Mahomes to get a field goal and send the game into overtime.

The 49ers got the ball for the start of overtime and again came out passing, and if it was not for holding call they would have giving the Chiefs the ball back near enough immediately.

Suddenly Shanahan woke up, started calling a series of run plays but again on 3rd on 4 on the Kansas City 9 yard line, Shanahan called a passing play, and the 49ers had to settle for a field

The rest is history, Mahomes went onto drive the ball down the field and in the dying seconds on the 1st half of overtime they scored the winning touchdown.

Last night was undoubtedly a missed opportunity for the 49ers. Whether they will have another chance with this team remains to be seen, but it's unlikely.

While I'm not advocating for a coaching change, it's clear that last night's result could have been different if shanahan had stuck to the strengths of the team.

It's a bitter pill for 49ers fans to swallow, and they will undoubtedly reflect on this game in the months and years to come.