The 49ers had three straight road wins as underdogs against teams who had 12 or more victories. So when you hear this team was playing with “house money,” it’s because they were.
But a playoff run where 29 offensive possessions ended in four touchdowns will leave a bitter taste in anyone’s mouth.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s decision-making reflected how he felt about his offense. The three-play sequence in the fourth quarter that started with punting the ball on 4th & 2 will grab the headlines, and rightfully so. Still, there were a dozen other plays throughout the game where the 49ers failed to make a play, which ultimately cost the team another Super Bowl appearance.