Underrated 49ers injury played massive role in heartbreaking Super Bowl LVIII loss to Chiefs
Injuries are more common than touchdowns in the NFL, so it's almost as if teams and fans have become desensitized, even though we know that's all not the case.Obviously, some injuries outweigh others when it comes to their impact on the game. Unfortunately for the San Francisco 49ers, there's one injury that flew under the […]
Injuries are more common than touchdowns in the NFL, so it's almost as if teams and fans have become desensitized, even though we know that's all not the case.
Obviously, some injuries outweigh others when it comes to their impact on the game. Unfortunately for the San Francisco 49ers, there's one injury that flew under the radar, but ended up having a massive impact on the final outcome of Super Bowl LVIII.
The 49ers lost right guard Jon Feliciano late in the third quarter to injury and he never returned. His replacement, Spencer Burford, was the initial starter to open the season, but Feliciano had taken over the job after Burford suffered his own injury. Either way, Burford had plenty of experience as he took the field for his injured teammate.
Well, that experience didn't translate on what became one of the game's biggest plays. In overtime, the 9ers were faced with a 3rd and 4 from the KC 9. It was the first possession of overtime, so the Chiefs would still get a chance to respond no matter what the 9ers did in terms of scoring – but still, San Fran had a chance to set the tone and dictate the Chiefs' next move by scoring a touchdown.
The 49ers couldn't get in the end zone, however, as All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones blew through the offensive line and forced Brock Purdy to throw the ball into the dirt. Jones was literally untouched and wasn't even looked at by the 49ers offensive line, as you can see below:
"It looked like there was a protection bust up the middle," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game. "We were going to Jauan [Jennings]. It looked like Jauan killed him – [he] won pretty good. But Chris Jones got loose in the middle. I think there was a mistake, not sure, but also he's a hard guy to block."
Shanahan is definitely sure what happened, here, and the mistake is a bad one. It's literally Football 101 to identify and assign the guys with the hand in the dirt, first, because those guys are going to rush on 95% of occasions. Then, you identify potential blitzers/pass rushers based off film study, game situation, etc.
And. It's. Chris. Jones. One of the best -if not the best- interior defensive lineman in the game. How in the hell are you not going to make sure's locked up in terms of assignment? It's simply inexcusable and unacceptable for the above play to happen the way it did – especially in the moment it happened.
It's completely fair to wonder how this plays out if Feliciano was in the game. He's a veteran and a guy who has always been known to have his head on straight in big moments – it's more than plausible this play works like it was supposed to if he doesn't get hurt.
"I think he gives us tremendous versatility at guard and center," 49ers general manager John Lynch told the media back in April 2023. "Around the league it's kind of known, he's one of those glue guys – one of those guys you want in your room and so, he became a priority for us in free agency. I felt very fortunate that we were able to come out of free agency with Jon a part of our team, especially once we lost Danny [Brunskill]. Those guys are incredibly valuable."
It just goes to show how any play can affect the next. Or even one 12 plays later down the line. It's part of both the beauty -and misery- of the game. Unfortunately, the 49ers experienced the latter on Sunday and it cost them yet another shot at their first Lombardi since Super Bowl XXIX.
The Super Bowl window is already closing for Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers
The Super Bowl window is already closing for the 49ers
