49ers’ Brock Purdy Reflects on Missed Plays from Super Bowl Loss to Mahomes, Chiefs

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IISeptember 9, 2024

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Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers pushed the Kansas City Chiefs to the brink in last season’s Super Bowl but ultimately fell 25-22 in overtime.

Before the team could move forward into 2024, San Francisco has looked backward and reflected on the game. That includes Purdy, who has seen the game tape multiple times with head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.

As far as plays he would like back, Purdy pointed out a third-down incompletion late in the fourth quarter to Jauan Jennings on 3rd-and-5 with two minutes left and the game tied at 16.

“Those are the kind of plays that run through my mind when I think about the Super Bowl,” Purdy said.

As Wagoner wrote, “a better read to an open [Brandon Aiyuk] likely would have resulted in a first down.” If the 49ers got a first down, they would have had the ball at the Chiefs’ 30-yard line or farther with just under two minutes remaining.

Kansas City still had two timeouts, but the 49ers could have run some more clock (or perhaps even got another first down to effectively shut the door) en route to the franchise’s sixth Lombardi Trophy.

That didn’t happen. San Francisco kicker Jake Moody nailed a 53-yard field goal for the lead, but the Chiefs marched down the field and responded with Harrison Butker’s 29-yard field goal attempt.

In overtime, the 49ers had a chance to shut the door with a touchdown after finding themselves with a 1st-and-10 on the Chiefs’ 15-yard line. Two Christian McCaffrey runs went for six and zero yards, leading to 3rd-and-4.

The next play, however, was blown up after Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones got in Purdy’s face, forcing a throwaway over Jennings’ head.

Kansas City then went downfield and scored the game-winner when Mahomes found Mecole Hardman for a three-yard touchdown.

Now the 49ers, who still look like a Super Bowl contender, look to put that season in the rearview mirror. Up first is a home matchup with the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.