The San Francisco 49ers came within an overtime of winning it all this past February. Instead, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs now have a chance to win a record third consecutive Super Bowl.
Many expect the Chiefs to at least make the Big Game, but will the 49ers be there to meet them?
Put simply, there are several reasons why that is unlikely. Here are three of them.
1. 49ers history lacks precedent
If Brock Purdy were to return to a Super Bowl at any point in his 49ers career, let alone in 2024, he would be the first Super Bowl-losing quarterback to make it back to the Big Game out of the last 18 players, per Seahawks Wire. While Purdy has already had a special NFL career, pulling off something like this would be a stunning development.
2. Locker room distractions
The 49ers haven’t been in the national headlines quite as much as the Dallas Cowboys. However, that doesn’t mean they haven’t had their drama and attention on matters outside of winning.
Brandon Aiyuk has been the face of said drama in 2024. Currently, he is arguing for a raise. Some reports and even the receiver himself has claimed the 49ers don’t want him on the team.
Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey received a big new extension, dragging down the salary cap. At the center of it all, Purdy is heading into his final year on a rookie deal.
In other words, money is now the thing on the mind. When that happens, Super Bowls usually don’t follow.
3. Lots of playoff revenge suitors (Packers, Lions)
As the NFC’s representative in the Super Bowl last season, the 49ers had to claw through a lot of teams. With an offseason to stew, last year’s playoff opponents become tomorrow’s silver bullets. At this point, the Packers and Lions are preparing to defeat the 49ers in the playoffs next season.
As such, the players and coaches have all consciously and subconsciously been working on how to nullify San Francisco. Meanwhile, the 49ers can only speculate on how they’ll be attacked. They’ll need to guard against every potential outcome, making it nearly impossible to focus correctly on the best choice.
At this point, the Lions and Packers look like front-runners to be back in the big dance, so a playoff battle between either opponent and the 49ers appears to be likely at some point.
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