:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/grupoclarin/MRXNDWEZSRDVXKUWAESLK5CXFU.jpg "Shanahan upset by the idea that 49ers can’t win big games, losing another Super Bowl")
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Kyle Shanahan has heard the criticism. It is said that, for all the accomplishments he has had as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, he is incapable of winning the biggest game of all.
Those questions intensified after a second Super Bowl loss in the last five years. And Shanahan is the one most eager to quell those comments.
He wants to prove those who doubt him wrong. And of course, he wants to conquer “a damn Super Bowl” once and for all.
“The fact that we keep getting there shows how capable we are of winning big games,” Shanahan said Tuesday, as the 49ers prepared for the offseason after falling 25-22 in overtime to the Chiefs on Sunday. Kansas City.
“These two Super Bowls have been tough. We lost to Kansas City… You guys can have any narrative you want. “Success or failure comes down to a match,” he commented. “I hope that I can be part of a team that wins the last game of the year. But to say the Niners can’t win a big game is an extremely inaccurate statement.”
They have simply been unable to hit the jackpot despite coming very close in recent years. San Francisco blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead against the Chiefs to lose the Super Bowl that followed the 2019 season.
The 49ers then let a 10-point lead slip away in the fourth quarter of the 2021 NFC finals to succumb to the Los Angeles Rams. They fell in that same instance last year, after playing a good part of the game with a quarterback who was at least in good physical condition.
And in this last Super Bowl, they led the Chiefs 10-0 early, and then allowed Patrick Mahomes to lead two field goal possessions to tie it in the fourth quarter, as well as a game-winning touchdown for Kansas City in the extension.
“I’m disappointed because we had more than one opportunity to go and take him.” All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner said. “Super Bowls are not given away. You have to take them the moment you have them there and we didn’t do that. We had a great team to do it, we had a great opportunity. We were playing the right way. What is shocking is that you have to start from scratch and do everything again.”
Shanahan and most of the players mentioned that they haven’t been able to watch a replay of the game because the injuries are still fresh. Shanahan said he will review almost every call made during the game, asserting that one play could have made the difference.
The Chiefs scored on their final four possessions, raising questions about whether the loss falls on defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Shanahan did not directly comment on whether Wilks will return for next season, indicating that he has not spoken with his coaching staff, although he is confident that everyone will be back.