5 Things We Learned About the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl

Prevent Defense Only Prevents Your Team From Winning

This is something many gamblers have recognized over the years. Unfortunately for 49ers fans, it's not a lesson Kyle Shanahan heeded. 

Prevent defense only prevents your team from winning. 

After falling short on the Chiefs' nine-yard line, the Niners needed to hold Kansas City out of the endzone. Instead, they leaned into the prevent defense, lining their linebackers eight yards off the line of scrimmage with soft help from their safeties. By doing so, they effectively gave the Chiefs three to four free yards on every snap. Smartly, KC took what was given and marched into the endzone. 

This was San Francisco's game to lose. And they blew it. Two leads late in the game as -1.5 chalk, and the Niners' defense couldn't take care of business. 

Next time, Shanahan's team needs a 4th-and-1 stop to win the Championship; hopefully, he doesn't trot out a soft zone coverage to give up a free six yards.  

Christian McCaffrey is the Real MVP

I mean no disrespect to Lamar Jackson, but Christian McCaffrey is the real MVP. 

We didn't need McCaffrey's Super Bowl performance to validate that position, but we'll use it as a stepping-off point. The two-time Offensive Player of the Year was his usual workhorse self on Sunday, compiling 80 rushing yards on 22 carries while adding 80 on eight receptions. 

Other than a Week 17 contest against the lowly Washington Commanders in which he only played 54.3% of snaps, McCaffrey has eclipsed the century mark in scrimmage yards in every game since Week 8.

McCaffrey opened as a +10000 longshot to win next year's MVP award. Without hesitation, he's worth a flyer.

Fred Warner Doesn't Have an 'Off' Switch

After Dre Greenlaw was carted to the locker room, it left a gaping hole in the Niners' defense. Somehow, Fred Warner found a way to fill the added space. 

Warner had a team-high nine tackles and four assists, finding a way to get involved in virtually every running play and short pass attempt. That's been his standard throughout the season, but he still delivered a game-changing performance when the stakes were the highest.

It wasn't enough to help his team win, but the 49ers' future remains bright with Warner patrolling the field. Surely, he's part of why San Francisco opened as +500 favorites to win next year's Super Bowl.

Deebo Samuel is the Heart and Soul of the Niners

Every time the 49ers needed a big play this postseason, Deebo Samuel was there. After watching him leave it all on the field, we gained a new appreciation for what Samuel brings to the field nightly.

Samuel consistently stepped up to make big plays despite lingering injuries and blanketing coverage. He did it against the Chiefs on Sunday, versus the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game, and the Green Bay Packers before that. 

In doing so, Samuel has become the poster boy of the 49ers. He fits every scheme, runs, catches, and throws, endearing himself as the heart and soul of the 49ers. 

A universe exists where Samuel was crowned Super Bowl MVP as a +3000 longshot. We're feeling a little robbed by it not being this one. 

Prevent Defense Only Prevents Your Team From Winning

This is something many gamblers have recognized over the years. Unfortunately for 49ers fans, it's not a lesson Kyle Shanahan heeded. 

Prevent defense only prevents your team from winning. 

After falling short on the Chiefs' nine-yard line, the Niners needed to hold Kansas City out of the endzone. Instead, they leaned into the prevent defense, lining their linebackers eight yards off the line of scrimmage with soft help from their safeties. By doing so, they effectively gave the Chiefs three to four free yards on every snap. Smartly, KC took what was given and marched into the endzone. 

This was San Francisco's game to lose. And they blew it. Two leads late in the game as -1.5 chalk, and the Niners' defense couldn't take care of business. 

Next time, Shanahan's team needs a 4th-and-1 stop to win the Championship; hopefully, he doesn't trot out a soft zone coverage to give up a free six yards.