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It will be easy for fans to think about past Super Bowls when the San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s high-profile showdown, but Kyle Shanahan doesn’t want his team dwelling on that storyline.
“I think everyone understands that we’ve lost two Super Bowls to them so I mean that can give you a little post-traumatic stress when you turn on the tape,” the 49ers head coach said Thursday, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
“But I think that’s human nature. You’ve got to make sure you don’t get caught up in that. This game has nothing to do with past games. That was last year.”
Kansas City defeated San Francisco in Super Bowl LVIII last season and Super Bowl LIV to end the 2019 campaign.
While the Chiefs are in an ideal position to make another run at the Super Bowl this season with a 5-0 record, things haven’t been as smooth for the 49ers.
They are 3-3 and dealing with injuries to running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles), defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (triceps), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist), offensive lineman Jon Feliciano (knee) and kicker Jake Moody (ankle).
Yet they do have some momentum following a road victory over the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. And figuring out a way to defeat the reigning Super Bowl champions would be quite the way to add to it.
Perhaps the best way to do that would be avoiding the hype that will surround Sunday’s contest, and that is exactly what Shanahan hopes his team does.
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