Super Bowl LIV 49ers Preview

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San Francisco 49ers Saturday Pool Report

By Jenny Vrentas - February 1, 2020

The 49ers held a 50-minute walk-through in the University of Miami's indoor facility Saturday afternoon, before bussing over to Hard Rock Stadium for a look at the venue the day before Super Bowl LIV.

The walk-through was efficient and focused as the 49ers did a final review of their gameplan with the doors of the fieldhouse closed for privacy and no music playing. Players wore dri-fit shirts printed with their numbers, shorts and sneakers. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was the only player wearing a helmet so he could listen to head coach Kyle Shanahan relay the play calls through the radio. Garoppolo executed handoffs and lightly tossed the ball on pass plays as the 49ers lined up against the scout team in different situations. The offense and defense worked on different ends of the field, and the session ended with a 7-minute special teams period.

"We're as ready as we can be," Shanahan said. "We just need the game to get here. It's been two weeks of (practice), and we are itching to go."

No players will carry an injury designation into the game. Shanahan said linebacker Kwon Alexander, running back Tevin Coleman and safety Jaquiski Tartt—who had been limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before participating fully on Friday—will be "full go" for the game.

The 49ers players on injured reserve watched the walk-through. Everyone gathered at midfield for a final huddle, and cornerback Richard Sherman, who will be playing in his third Super Bowl, broke it down with a Niners chant. After the walk-through ended at 1 p.m., the players boarded the buses en route to Hard Rock Stadium.

"I just want the guys to see it," Shanahan said. "Usually the locker room is different; the field is a little bit different. Instead of them going there and being in awe of everything tomorrow, I'd rather them do it today."

While all of their football work was done at the University of Miami, Shanahan planned to use the time at Hard Rock Stadium to walk through the Super Bowl's 29-minute halftime period (more than twice as long as the usual intermission), to get a feel for how long the break will be. He told the players they should hydrate and stretch for the first 15 minutes, then they will get into their normal halftime routine at the 13-minute mark.

"It's going to feel like forever," Shanahan said. "We're not used to that."

Shanahan said the team would follow its regular schedule the night before a game with position meetings followed by a team meeting. No special guests are planned. "Just us," he said. As for the message he'll give to his team on the eve of the final game of the season, "I like to see how I feel right before it," Shanahan said. "I am a pretty spur-of-the moment guy."

No team meetings are planned for Sunday morning. "Let the guys sleep in," Shanahan said, "and we'll meet them at the stadium tomorrow."

San Francisco 49ers Thursday Pool Report

By Jenny Vrentas - January 30, 2020

MIAMI - The 49ers held a spirited practice Thursday outdoors at the University of Miami under a warm mid-afternoon sun. Players were bobbing along to hip-hop and rap beats blaring from sideline speakers and broke into cheers multiple times to celebrate big plays by both the starting offense and defense. The biggest ovation came on a touchdown scored by the starting offense against a scout-defense look.

"Guys were excited," said head coach Kyle Shanahan. "They have a ton of energy, so they are ready to go."

Linebacker Kwon Alexander (pectoral), running back Tevin Coleman (shoulder) and safety Jaquiski Tartt (ribs) were limited in practice for the second straight day. "No change," Shanahan said. "They're going to be good to go."

Players wore helmets and shells for the 1-hour, 42-minute practice, which focused on their nickel installations as well as a review of Wednesday's first- and second-down plays. The 49ers usually practice in pads on Thursdays, but Shanahan opted against it today since they already got in one padded practice last week in Santa Clara.

"I don't think they need the pads," Shanahan said. "I'm trying to make sure we get into the game healthy."

Temperatures were in the mid-70s, but with no cloud cover, it felt much hotter on the field than on Wednesday. Shanahan noted that the temperatures felt a little like training camp, so players were reminded to hydrate. "I'm sure it's going to be a little warmer and humid for the game also," he said.

The FOX broadcast team of Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, Erin Andrews and Chris Myers was watching practice, along with Westwood One's Tony Boselli and Laura Okmin. Today's practice was the 49ers' last full-speed session of the week; the plan is for Friday to be mainly a walk-through, Shanahan said. Shanahan's message to the team at the end of practice as they broke down the huddle at mid-field was to make sure they are getting their rest as families and friends start arriving.

"I told them we are getting toward the end here," Shanahan said. "Most of the physical work's put in, but we have to rest our minds and our bodies so we are ready to go on Sunday."

San Francisco 49ers Wednesday Pool Report

By Jenny Vrentas - January 29, 2020

MIAMI - The 49ers' Wednesday afternoon practice at the University of Miami was marked by some good news on the injury front: Running back Tevin Coleman returned to practice as the team prepared for Super Bowl LIV.

Coleman was listed by the 49ers as a limited participant in the 1 hour, 40-minute session on an outdoor grass field. Linebacker Kwon Alexander (pectoral) and safety Jaquiski Tartt (ribs) were also listed as limited.

"They all got to go," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. "I'm expecting them to be good by Sunday."

The 49ers practiced in helmets and shells as they worked on first- and second-down installations, per their usual Wednesday routine, so there was no hitting during the session. Coleman took handoffs during team drills and looked to be in good spirits, slapping teammates' hands and leaping after the conclusion of one play.

The 49ers got in a full week of practice last week in Santa Clara, Calif., and will repeat their normal game preparation week here in Miami, Shanahan said. Wednesday's session included 11-on-11 team periods in which the offense and defense alternated working against scout-team looks, and ended with the first-team offense celebrating a big play that went for a touchdown. The temperature was 79 degrees with a nice breeze, and Shanahan said the grass field, which was re-done last week, was in good condition. The specialists took a trip over to practice kicking at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.​

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San Francisco 49ers Road to Super Bowl LIV

NFC Championship - 49ers 37 Packers 20

The 49ers advanced to Super Bowl LIV with a 37-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium.

The 49ers opened the scoring as RB Raheem Mostert scored on a 36-yard. TD to give San Francisco a 7-0 lead early in the 1st quarter On the Packers following possession, DL Nick Bosa brought down Packers QB Aaron Rodgers for a 9-yard. loss on third down, forcing Green Bay to punt. The 49ers extended their lead, as K Robbie Gould connected on a 54-yard. FG, the longest postseason FG of his career and in franchise history. The 49ers defense forced the Packers to go 3-and-out, as CB K’Waun Williams tallied a strip-sack of Rodgers on third down. On the ensuing possession, Mostert registered his 2nd TD of the game, this time on a 9-yard. TD run, extending the lead to 17-0. The Packers were moved the ball to the 49ers 25-yard. line before Rodgers fumbled the snap, which was recovered by DL DeForest Buckner. The turnover led to a 27-yard. FG by Gould to make the score 20-0. With under 2:00 to play in the 1st half, CB Emmanuel Moseley intercepted Rodgers, marking his first postseason INT. The takeaway led to an 18-yard. TD run by Mostert, his 3rd TD of the game, giving the 49ers a 27-0 lead at halftime.

The Packers got on the board in the 3rd quarter, as Rodgers connected with RB Aaron Jones for a 9-yard. TD recept. to cut the lead to 27-7. The 49ers answered immediately, as Mostert recorded his 4th rushing TD of the game, this time on a 22-yard. TD run, to make the score 34-7. The Packers responded again, as Jones scored on a 1-yard. TD run, cutting the score to 34-13. Following a 49ers punt, Green Bay found the end zone again, as Rodgers connected with TE Jace Sternberger for an 8-yard. TD recept., trimming the 49ers lead to 34-20.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers offense put together a 10-play, 49-yard drive that was capped off by Gould knocking in a 49-yard. FG to extend the lead to 37-20. On the Packers final drive of the game, DL Arik Armstead registered a strip-sack of Rodgers and, two plays later, Rodgers picked off by CB Richard Sherman, his 2nd INT of the postseason, to seal the win.

The 49ers offense rushed for 285 yards and four touchdowns on 42 attempts on the night, with RB Raheem Mostert finishing with 29 carries for 220 yards and four touchdowns. His 220 rushing yards set the franchise record for the most rushing yards in a game, regular season or postseason.

On defense, the 49ers sacked Packers QB Aaron Rodgers three times, forced two fumbles and intercepted Rodgers twice. DL Arik Armstead, DL Nick Bosa and CB K'Waun Williams each brought down Rodgers with CBs Emmanuel Moseley and Richard Sherman registering interceptions.

The 49ers improved their NFC Championship record to 7 and 9.

NFC Divisional Round - 49ers 27 Vikings 10

In the first 49ers postseason game at Levi's Stadium, San Francisco defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 27-10, in the NFC Divisional Round and earned their 16th trip to the NFC Championship. The Niners improved to 5-1 against the Vikings in postseason play, with each playoff game coming in the Divisional Round. San Francisco improved their overall record to 16-7 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

After forcing a 3-and-out on the Vikings opening drive, QB Jimmy Garoppolo engineered an 8 play, 61-yard. drive that was capped off on a 3-yard. TD pass to WR Kendrick Bourne, giving the 49ers a 7-0 lead. Minnesota answered on the following drive, as Vikings QB Kirk Cousins connected with WR Stefon Diggs for a 41-yard. TD reception to even the game at 7-7. After the teams traded possessions, the 49ers offense put together a 10-play, 53-yard. drive that was punctuated with a 1-yard. TD run by RB Tevin Coleman to put San Francisco on top, 14-7. Following a turnover by San Francisco, Vikings K Dan Bailey connected on a 39-yard. FG to cut the 49ers lead to 14-10 at halftime.

On the opening drive of the second half, K Robbie Gould connected on a 35-yard. FG to extend the lead to 17-10. On the ensuing possession, CB Richard Sherman picked off Cousins, giving the 49ers offense the ball at the Vikings 44-yard. line. The offense responded with 8 consecutive running plays, including a 2-yard. TD run by Coleman, his 2nd TD of the game.

Following a punt by P Mitch Wishnowsky, RB Raheem Mostert recovered a muffed return by CB Marcus Sherels on special teams, giving the 49ers the ball back at the Vikings 10-yard. line. The turnover led to a 21-yard FG by Gould and a 27-10 lead. The 49ers defense registered 6.0 sacks of Cousins and held the Vikings to 147 net yards. (21 rushing and 126 passing). The 147 net yards allowed were the fewest in a postseason game in franchise history. With the win, San Francisco advances to the NFC Championship Game for the 14th time since 1980 and the first time since 2013.

San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl History

The San Francisco 49ers return to the Super Bowl for the seventh time in franchise history and first time since the 2012 season as they travel to Miami Gardens, FL, to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

The 49ers can win their sixth Super Bowl which would tie them with the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl titles by one franchise. San Francisco also won Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX.

>The 49ers could become just the second team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl after finishing the previous season with four-or-fewer wins, joining the 1999 St. Louis Rams.

San Francisco would win the Super Bowl for the first time in 25 years. At the same stadium, on January 29, 1995, the 49ers concluded the NFL's 75th season with a 49-26 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Miami.

>Head coach Kyle Shanahan and his father, Mike Shanahan, would become the first father and son head coaches to win Super Bowls. Mike won Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII as head coach of the Denver Broncos.

San Francisco would improve to 6-1 in Super Bowls, and 3-0 in Miami Super Bowls (also XXIII after the '88 season and XXIX after the '94 season).

The 49ers, who were 4-12 in 2018, are only third NFL team to advance to a Super Bowl after winning four-or-fewer games the prior season, joining the 1999 St. Louis Rams (4-12 in 1998) and the 1988 Cincinnati Bengals (4-11 in 1987).

The San Francisco 49ers advanced to Super Bowl LIV with a convincing 37-20 win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship.

49ers Running back Raheem Mostert rushed for 220 yards, the second-most ever in an NFL postseason game, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson's 248 rushing yards for the Los Angeles Rams on January 4, 1986. Mostert also became the third player in postseason history to rush for at least four touchdowns in a single game, joining RICKY WATTERS (five) and LEGARRETTE BLOUNT (four).

49ers Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has a 23-5 (.821) career record as a starter, including the postseason, and makes his first-career Super Bowl start.

Tight end George Kittle has 2,945 career receiving yards and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer MIKE DITKA (2,774) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in his first three seasons in league annals. Wide receiver EMMANUEL SANDERS joined Pro Football Hall of Famers WALTER PAYTON and LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, along with ODELL BECKHAM JR., as the only non-quarterbacks to record both a passing and receiving touchdown in multiple games since 1970. Wide receiver DEEBO SAMUEL had three games with at least 100 receiving yards in 2019, the most by a rookie in franchise history.

Rookie defensive lineman NICK BOSA has recorded three sacks in the 49ers first two postseason games and can become the third rookie since 1982 when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record at least four sacks in a single postseason, joining GREG TOWNSEND (4.5 sacks in 1983) and GARIN VERIS (four in 1985). Defensive lineman ARIK ARMSTEAD has recorded a sack in each of San Francisco's two postseason games this year while cornerback RICHARD SHERMAN has registered an interception in both the Divisional and Championship rounds. Defensive lineman DEE FORD spent five seasons (2014-18) with Kansas City and recorded a career-high 13 sacks and seven forced fumbles with the Chiefs in 2018.

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Super Bowl LIV 49ers Preview - 49ers vs Chiefs