Niners trying to downplay Super Bowl rematch vs. nemesis Chiefs

One of the universal exercises around the NFL each week consists of watching film.Teams facing each other on a particular week watch extensive tape on the opposition from previous games and matchups.That generally begins at the start of the week for the coaches and the entire team, and it branches off more specific cut-ups in position-group meetings.For the 49ers (3-3) this week, preparing to host the 5-0 Chiefs on Sunday, the film study has taken on a more emotional, if painful, tone.The 49ers had no choice but to watch the tape of the last time they played the Chiefs, eight months ago in Super Bowl LVIII, a crushing 25-22 overtime loss in Las Vegas.“Everyone understands that we’ve lost the two Super Bowls to them,’’ 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters this week.

“That can give a little post-traumatic stress when you turn on the tape.That’s human nature.

But you’ve got to make sure you don’t get caught up in that.This game has nothing to do with past games, that was last year.”This marks the 10th time in NFL history there has been a rematch of the previous Super Bowl in the following regular season, and the defending champion is 6-3 in those games.If that isn’t enough bad juju, since Shanahan took over in San Francisco in 2017, the 49ers are 0-4 against the Chiefs — including blowing double-digit leads in both two Super Bowl defeats.The 49ers were up 10-0 in the first quarter in February, and had leads in the fourth quarter and overtime, but were overtaken by Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.Again.

Second time since the 2019 season.“It’s definitely a little emotional,” 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa told reporters about having to watch the tape of last year’s Super Bowl loss.“But at this point, it’s just a game so we’re just looking at the tape, trying to learn from it.

A lot of similarities from last year.A few new guys, but a really good defense and an offense obviously has No.

15 [Mahomes] back there....