Super Bowl 54: 49ers lose to Chiefs in heartbreaking fashion, sixth title eludes them

The day finally came and the San Francisco 49ers were playing in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. After a promising three quarters, the Chiefs offense caught fire as it does and recorded a 31-20 victory.

The first drive was a win for the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers defense stopped the Kansas City Chiefs vaunted offense on a three-and-out, and the 49ers offense responded by getting into field goal range and taking a 3-0 lead.

The Chiefs took over the rest of the quarter on a long drive that took up the rest of the time. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes rushed it in on an option play to make the score 7-3 to Kansas City. This is how the quarter would end.

Unfortunately, the bad side of the gunslinger mentality that Jimmy Garoppolo has shown up to start the second quarter. He threw a wild pass up for grabs while under heavy pressure, but there were only Chiefs around it for an easy interception.

Luckily the 49ers were able to stop the Chiefs only in field goal territory, and limited the damage to only three points for a 10-3 Chiefs lead.

The 49ers answered in the best possible way. They went down the field after they rediscovered their mojo rushing the ball and utilizing rookie Deebo Samuel on quick passes, and a pass from Garoppolo to fullback Kyle Juszczyk made it a 10-10 game.

There wouldn’t be a score for the rest of the half. The Chiefs got stopped at midfield, while an offensive pass interference call on tight end George Kittle wiped out a huge gain and potential field goal to make it 10-10 at the half.

The 49ers came out firing in the second half. Garoppolo drove down the field aided by some hard running by Deebo. Although Garoppolo missed Kittle being wide open for a first down and settled for a checkdown, the 49ers were able to get the field goal and take the lead 13-10.

San Francisco’s defense took up the challenge. The Chiefs looked threatening until rookie EDGE Nick Bosa forced a fumble by grabbing the arm of Mahomes. Mahomes recovered the ball, but the very next play threw an interception right to linebacker Fred Warner who had dropped into coverage.

The 49ers took full advantage. Garoppolo threw down the field, including a clutch third down throw, and running back Raheem Mostert punched it in for a 20-10 lead. This is how the score will stay for the rest of the third quarter.

The Niners defense made a huge play early in the fourth quarter. Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill dropped a pass thrown slightly behind him, and backup safety Tarvarius Moore intercepted the ball to stop the Chiefs from scoring and making it only a one possession game.

After getting the ball back, Mahomes drove the Chiefs down the field. Moore panicked in one-on-one coverage against tight end Travis Kelce for a pass interference penalty in the end zone, and the Chiefs took advantage one play later with a quick pass to Kelce to make it 20-17 to the 49ers.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan made a questionable playcalling decision on the next drive. Needing the bleed the clock, the 49ers ran for five yards on a Mostert carry. However they then ran two straight passing plays that went incomplete and gave the ball back.

The Chiefs took advantage, driving down the field before running back Damien Williams took it in off a quick pass to take the lead 24-20.

It came down to one last two-minute drill for the 49ers. The Niners got into midfield, but a third down overthrow of an open Emmanuel Sanders set up fourth down, and Garoppolo got sacked.

Damien Williams put the icing on the cake when he burst through a desperate 49ers defense and took it to the house to end it on 31-20.

The 49ers took to the field in desperation, but weren’t able to perform any miracles. The quest for a sixth Lombardi will have to wait a little longer.