SANTA CLARA, Calif. — As the San Francisco 49ers began preparation for this week's game against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, they had no choice but to turn on and relive their devastating loss in Super Bowl LVIII.
The simple act of watching the tape from the 25-22 defeat in Las Vegas brought plenty of feelings back to the surface, but the two losses to the Chiefs on the game's grandest stage are something this season's Niners are trying to set aside as they head toward Sunday's clash at Levi's Stadium.
«I think everyone understands that we've lost two Super Bowls to them so I mean that can give you a little post-traumatic stress when you turn on the tape,» coach Kyle Shanahan said. «But I think that's human nature. You've got to make sure you don't get caught up in that. This game has nothing to do with past games. That was last year.»
When the Niners and Chiefs kick off Sunday, it will be 252 days since San Francisco saw its Lombardi Trophy dreams slip away repeatedly as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs claimed their third championship in four years.
Not much has changed in Kansas City since, but the 49ers enter this matchup with plenty of new faces in important places. They fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, replacing him with Nick Sorensen, and hired Brandon Staley to an assistant head coach role to help out.
Injuries have also hit the Niners hard with running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis), defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (torn triceps), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (torn Achilles), safety Talanoa Hufanga (torn ligaments in his wrist), offensive lineman Jon Feliciano (knee) and kicker Jake Moody (right ankle) — all of whom started in the Super Bowl except for Hufanga — out of action.
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