49ers lose Super Bowl OT heartbreaker to Chiefs 25-22
Feb 11, 2024, 7:58 PM | Updated: Feb 12, 2024, 12:21 am
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 11: Mecole Hardman Jr. #12 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a touchdown with Patrick Mahomes #15 to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Another Super Bowl, another tough loss for the San Francisco 49ers to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
The San Francisco 49ers suffered a heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl LVIII, losing in overtime, 25-22. After going into halftime up 10-3, the 49ers offense couldn’t get much going to open the second half, allowing Kansas City to rally back on multiple occasions.
And when it came down to OT, the better quarterback won, with Mahomes hitting wideout Mecole Hardman to send SF home in agony.
San Francisco had a seven-point lead entering halftime, feeling good about holding Mahomes and Co. to only three points.
But after the intermission, the script flipped, with the 49ers offense unable to get much going in the third quarter. SF’s defense did a good job of limited KC as well, holding them to only an additional field goal.
Then, disaster struck, with a punt hitting 49ers cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. on the foot. Return-man Ray-Ray McCloud couldn’t recover it, giving the ball to the Chiefs at the 49ers’ 16-yard-line. Kansas City scored on the very next play, giving them the lead 13-10.
The 49ers responded with their own toxusiwn dirve on the next possession, going 12 plays to the endzone. QB Brock Purdy finished the series with a strike to WR Jauan Jennings, fighting through tackles to reach paydirt to retake the lead.
49ers kicker Jake Moody’s extra-point try was blocked however, leaving it a three-point game at 16-13.
The two sides would match field goals after that, eventually leaving Mahomes and the Chiefs with 1:53 to operate. The defending champs did what they’ve done all year, make enough plays to win. They did so by getting deep into 49ers territory, before forcing overtime as the clock ran out.
19 all entering OT.
San Francisco got the ball first after winning the coin toss, marching downfield on 13 plays. Their progress was halted at the Chiefs’ nine-yard-line however, forced to settle for only three points.
Those points forced Mahomes and Co. to either match or end the game with a TD. The result ended up being the latter, sending SF back to California in tears once more.
“I hurt the most for the players,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said postgame. “I can’t tell you guys how long it takes to get here and just how long the NFL season is. Going through January and all the way into February. So, our guys, I hurt for the most.”
The Red & Gold leave Las Vegas utterly stunned, feeling as though they had enough to win the game early on. But good defense by KC and a resilience to overcome kept the 49ers from winning the Lombardi Trophy.
The Super Bowl drought extends to 29 years, leaving everyone lost for words.
“I was speechless. I couldn’t really look anybody in the eye,” 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa said. “There’s not really much to say at this point.”
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