5 lessons Buccaneers can learn from SF 49ers Super Bowl loss to Chiefs

SF 49ers Lesson to Buccaneers No. 5: Find defensive success against Patrick Mahomes

For two-plus quarters in Super Bowl LIV, the SF 49ers made Patrick Mahomes look… well, human.

The Niners already picked him off once early in the game, and defensive back Tarvarius Moore’s second-half interception appeared as if it was destined to be a game-winning play.

San Francisco 49ers

Things fell apart shortly after that, of course, but it’s a lesson the Buccaneers can learn.

Mahomes isn’t a run-first quarterback, of course, but he’s elusive enough to evade the pass-rushing prowess of Tampa Bay’s Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul off the edges. Those two will be vital, yes, but Mahomes has already demonstrated other-wordly abilities for creating plays out of nothing.

The Buffalo Bills tried soft-zone coverages in the AFC championship, and that didn’t work. And the Chiefs have excellent size and speed to take advantage of man coverage, too.

What might work, as it did for two-plus quarters last February, is for the Bucs to copy a page out of San Francisco’s defense. For a good chunk of that game, the SF 49ers used a combination of a big-nickel secondary, inserting Moore as a third safety on the field, while also having some success with Tampa 2 coverage with linebacker Fred Warner dropping back in coverage in the middle of the hashes.

Again, it won’t work all of the time. It might not even work most of the time. But this approach could slow Mahomes down enough to give the Buccaneers defense a chance at ending some Chiefs drives prematurely.

That could ultimately prove to be the difference maker, and Tampa Bay should then send the SF 49ers a thank-you card for providing these tips.