49ers must learn these crucial lessons from Super Bowl-winning Chiefs
By Peter Panacy
No. 2 Chiefs lesson to 49ers: Don’t neglect the offensive line
A year after the Chiefs beat San Francisco in the Super Bowl, a potent Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass rush absolutely demolished Patrick Mahomes and a makeshift, banged-up KC offensive line in Super Bowl LV.
How did Kansas City respond? By aggressively upgrading the O-line by grabbing Orlando Brown and Joe Thuney, and then the Chiefs doubled down by making even more moves in the NFL Draft.
What’s astounding is that KC’s O-line surrendered precisely zero sacks against an Eagles defense that led the league with a whopping 70 sacks during the regular season.
And 49ers fans can recall how that Philly pass rush all but ruined the Niners’ bid to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Granted, San Francisco hasn’t neglected the O-line in recent years, including using a 2021 second-round pick on left guard Aaron Banks rather than re-sign a fan-favorite in Laken Tomlinson, while All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams also inked a hefty contract to stay put, too.
Should the 49ers relent and give up this kind of attention, though?
Kansas City would say, “no.”