The Biggest Reasons the 49ers Didn't Win Super Bowl LVIII
Here are the top three reasons the 49ers lost Super Bowl LVIII:
1. Lack of preparation.
The team clearly didn't know the overtime rules in the playoffs. Many of them thought they could end the game with a touchdown on the first possession of overtime, which they couldn't -- the Chiefs were guaranteed a possession. Then Kyle Shanahan thought there would be a third possession in overtime if both the 49ers and the Chiefs scored touchdowns, but there wouldn't have been a third possession -- the Chiefs would have gone for two. That's why the Chiefs were laughing at the 49ers during the game and afterward.
2. Offensive stars didn't show up.
Deebo Samuel caught just three passes on 11 targets. Brandon Aiyuk caught three passes. George Kittle caught two. Christian McCaffrey fumbled. And Trent Williams got pushed around all game by cornerbacks. The only star on the offense who didn't underperform was Brock Purdy, who never had a chance, because his receivers couldn't get open and his head coach couldn't figure out a protection scheme that would pick up the Chiefs blitzes.
3. Special teams blunders.
Ray Ray McCloud fumbled a punt trying to scoop it up rather simply falling on it, which led to a short field and a touchdown for the Chiefs. Then Jake Moody missed an extra point, which allowed the Chiefs to tie the game and send it to overtime with a field goal at the end of regulation. The special teams blunders may have been the 49ers' biggest ones.
