In each of their Super Bowl defeats to the Kansas City Chiefs, Chris Jones has played a critical role in the San Francisco 49ers' demise.

The All-Pro defensive tackle took over the game in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 54 as the Chiefs fought back from a 20-10 deficit to prevail, and it was he who broke through unblocked in overtime of Super Bowl 58 to force Brock Purdy into a desperate heave to Jauan Jennings instead of being able to progress to a wide open Brandon Aiyuk in the endzone.

San Francisco was forced to settle for a field goal having driven down inside the Chiefs' 10-yard line, and Kansas City scored the game-winning touchdown on the subsequent possession.

Jones was able to take advantage of a key protection error from right guard Spencer Burford, in for the injured Jon Feliciano, to prevent a 49ers touchdown.

Right guard had long been a problem area for the 49ers, but this season rookie Dominick Puni has quickly turned it into a strength.

Puni has yet to allow a sack, per Pro Football Focus. According to Sports Info Solutions, he has just six blown blocks to his name in 382 plays.

The exceptional pass protection he displayed at Kansas while playing both left guard and left tackle across his final two seasons with the Jayhawks has translated to the highest level, while Puni has demonstrated clear improvement as a run blocker from his time in college. Indeed, Puni looks extremely comfortable on both the zone and gap scheme plays that make up the 49ers' dynamic and varied ground game, and the advanced numbers back that up.

Per SIS' total points metric, which takes Expected Points Added and gives an individual value to every player on each specific play from scrimmage, Puni ranks second among all guards with at least 100 snaps in points earned. He is fifth in points earned on passing plays and fourth on running plays. 

But a looming matchup with Jones in the Week 7 rematch between the 49ers and Chiefs marks the biggest test of his still fledgling career. 

Yet it speaks to Puni's confidence and composure that it is a challenge the third-round pick is relishing.

"I'm excited for it," Puni told reporters. "Aaron Donald was going to be the first test until he retired. I was really excited to go against him, too. 

"Obviously I know how crazy of a challenge it would have been, but just to say I did it. But Chris Jones is in that echelon, too. He's one of the best D-tackles if not the best one in the league, so I'm excited for it, it's going to be a great matchup and I hope it propels me for the rest of the season."

Asked what shows up about Jones on film, Puni replied: "His playmaking ability. He shows up in big moments. I think that's his X-factor and what he brings to the table."

The 49ers know all too well about Jones' propensity for showing up in the biggest moments, and they can expect him to be at his best on Sunday on the evidence of the Chiefs' first five games. Jones leads all interior defensive linemen with at least 50 pass rush snaps in pass rush win rate (21.7%), per PFF, and is second in total pressures (28).

Now aged 30, Jones remains one of the league's most disruptive forces. The 49ers have had precious little success in slowing him down, but the standout pick from their 2024 class of rookies may give them their best shot yet.

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They could definitely use his production.