49ers defense is unable to hold a late lead against the Chiefs

The 49ers' defense was unable to keep up with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs for four quarters, surrendering a 10-point lead with less than 10 minutes to go.

Staff Writer

Feb. 2, 2020 11:23 PM PT

MIAMI — The San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo came through in similar situations this season.

They overcame fourth-quarter deficits for dramatic victories over the New Or-leans Saints and the Rams.

Pulling off that feat in the Super Bowl, however, is another challenge altogether, especially against a Kansas City Chiefs team led by the transcendent Patrick Mahomes.

The 49ers on Sunday blew a 10-point lead and then could not recover in a 31-20 defeat in Super Bowl LIV before 62,417 at Hard Rock Stadium.

“We just didn’t make some of the plays we normally make,” Garoppolo said. “So it’s a tough one.”

Or, as tight end George Kittle put it, “Losing sucks. Losing on the biggest stage is not fun.”

It was particularly disappointing for Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers’ third-year coach who had his team on the verge of possibly winning the sixth Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Sunday’s loss did not approach the Super Bowl meltdown the Atlanta Falcons experienced three years ago when Shanahan was the team’s offensive coordinator. That team blew a 25-point second-half lead en route to a humiliating defeat to the New England Patriots from which the Falcons have yet to recover.

Mahomes has not yet built the resume of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, but the 49ers could not stop the third-year pro from making key plays when they needed to most.

“They’re not a team that does it every drive,” Shanahan said of the Chiefs. “They get a little bit hot and cold and they can score very fast…. They know it’s a matter of time.”

The score was tied, 10-10, at halftime and the 49ers kicked a field goal on the first drive of the third quarter.

The 49ers defense kept the momentum when linebacker Fred Warner intercepted a pass by Mahomes. Garoppolo took over from there, completing several passes before Raheem Mostert scored on a short run for a 10-point lead with less than three minutes left in the third quarter.

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Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi celebrates the team’s 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Feb. 2, 2020. (Getty Images)

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Demi Lovato performs the national anthem before Super Bowl LIV. (Associated Press)

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San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) runs against Kansas City Chiefs’ Daniel Sorensen (49) and Charvarius Ward during the first half. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and teammates stand during the national anthem before Super Bowl LIV. (Associated Press)

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San Francisco 49ers’ Mitch Wishnowsky kicks off against the Kansas City Chiefs to start Super Bowl LIV. (Associated Press)

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams carries the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter. (Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs fans cheer during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers. (Associated Press)

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San Francisco 49ers’ DeForest Buckner (99) and Earl Mitchell sack Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the first half. (Associated Press)

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San Francisco 49ers defensive back Jimmie Ward, right, knocks the ball from the hands of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the first half. (Associated Press)

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A tribute to Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the seven others who died with them in a helicopter crash is shown on a screen at Hard Rock Stadium before Super Bowl LIV. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/ AFP via Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after scoring a touchdown the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter. (Associated Press)

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San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk scores a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of Super Bowl LIV. (Associated Press)

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San Francisco 49ers defensive back Emmanuel Moseley, left, tackles Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins during the first half. (Associated Press)

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San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44) celebrates his touchdown the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter. (Associated Press)

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Shakira perfroms during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Associated Press)

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Shakira perfroms during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Associated Press)

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Shakira, left, and Jennifer Lopez perform during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Getty Images)

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Shakira perfroms during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Getty Images)

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Shakira, left, and Jennifer Lopez perform during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Getty Images)

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Shakira perfroms during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Getty Images)

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Jennifer Lopez performs during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Associated Press)

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Jennifer Lopez performs during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Associated Press)

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San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert, left, celebrates his touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of the Chiefs’ 31-20 victory in Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, 2020. (Associated Press)

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the football during the second half of a 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, 2020. (Associated Press)

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne tries to fend off against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward during the second half of Super Bowl LIV. (Associated Press)

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel runs between Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs Bashaud Breeland (21) and Daniel Sorensen during the second half of Super Bowl LIV. (Associated Press)

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams scores a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of Super Bowl LIV. (Associated Press)

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, top, is chased by San Francisco 49ers defenders K’Waun Williams (24), Dre Greenlaw (57), and Fred Warner (54) during the second half of Super Bowl LIV. (Associated Press)

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams gives a stiff arm to San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LIV. ( Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid looks on from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. (Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams celebrates after scoring on a 38-yard touchdown run in the final minutes of Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers. (Associated Press)

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Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller celebrates his interception in the final minute against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. (Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates with teammates after defeating San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, 2020. Mahomes was named the Super Bowl’s most valuable player. (Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after the team’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. Mahomes was named the game’s MVP. (Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Khalen Saunders reacts after the team’s Super Bowl LIV victory over the San Francisco 49ers. (Associated Press)

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Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the team’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. (Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs owner and CEO Clark Hunt raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the team’s 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. (Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, left, and teammate Tyrann Mathieu celebrate after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. (Associated Press)

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Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV. (Getty Images)

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The Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AFP via Getty Images)

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Demarcus Robinson celebrates the team’s Super Bowl LIV win over the San Francisco 49ers. (Getty Images)

The 49ers appeared set to blow open the game after defensive back Tarvarius Moore intercepted a tipped pass on the ensuing series. But this time the 49ers could not sustain a drive.

“The turning point in the game was when we got a turnover and then we didn’t execute on offense,” Kittle said, “and they got the ball right back and drove it.”

Mahomes pulled the Chiefs to within three points with a touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce.

The 49ers got the ball with just more than six minutes left and went three and out, setting up Mahomes for another drive.

Receiver Sammy Watkins beat 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman for a 38-yard gain that helped set up Mahomes’ short touchdown pass to running back Damien Williams for the go-ahead score.

“We just didn’t execute our game,” Sherman said. “We’ve got to execute our game for four quarters.”

Garoppolo got another chance and moved the 49ers to near midfield. But Chiefs tackle Chris Jones batted down a first-down pass, Garoppolo’s next pass fell incomplete, and Garoppolo overthrew receiver Emmanuel Sanders on a deep route.

On fourth down, Chiefs linebacker Frank Clark sacked Garoppolo, ending any threat of a comeback.

The Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after winning Super Bowl LIV over the San Francisco 49ers.

Garoppolo lamented falling short of a storybook finish.

“Those are the moments you dream of and everything,” said Garoppolo, who completed 20 of 31 passes for 219 yards. “We got rolling on a right note and just couldn’t finish it off.”

Veteran tackle Joe Staley, 35, also played for the 49ers team that lost in the Super Bowl against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2012 season.

So the disappointment over Sunday’s defeat was magnified.

“You put your heart and soul and your entire life into trying to be a Super Bowl champion, and you get toward the end of your career and you realize how rare these opportunities are,” he said.

Shanahan said the 49ers would recover from the defeat.

“We’ll lick our wounds and we’ll get over this,” he said.

“We’ll be fired up for next year…. We get almost all of these guys back and plan on adding a few more.”