Here's how the 49ers can protect themselves from the classic Super Bowl hangover

The San Francisco 49ers are attempting the nearly impossible: to rise from Super Bowl runner-up to Super Bowl winner.

Although the Dallas Cowboys accomplished this feat in 1970, the Miami Dolphins in 1971 and the New England Patriots in 2017, the 49ers must overcome the Super Bowl hangover that is sure to hit the team after their 22-25 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.

Despite returning most of their players from an NFC championship team, the 49ers have many hurdles to overcome to be the last team standing at the end of the 2024 season. Kyle Shanahan must help his team navigate a winding road that will test the mental and physical toughness of the coaching staff and 53-man roster. He must find a way to play their best game in the home stretch, avoid the wave of injuries to key players and maintain championship focus during the grueling regular season.

Players need to learn from past playoff losses without letting the losses become a burden. Shanahan, in particular, cannot try to make up for the Super Bowl loss during the regular season. The brilliant tactician must resist the temptation to completely overhaul his offensive strategy to prove to his skeptics that he has learned from his failure on the big stage.

While continued success in the NFL will require development, the 49ers' continued success under Shanahan with Brock Purdy at the helm (the quarterback has a 17-4 regular-season record as a starter) should boost his confidence in his scheme and game planning. Additionally, the franchise quarterback's performance and productivity as a two-year starter should make it easy for the 49ers to bounce back without major changes to the system.

However, in the offseason, league rivals pored over the 49ers' game tapes from last season to determine which tactics and strategies gave them the most trouble. They also compiled comprehensive individual scouting reports to develop personalized game plans to neutralize the 49ers' top players.

With that in mind, the 49ers must anticipate the tactics ahead and build countermeasures that will allow them to adapt to whatever comes their way. Good coaches and teams are always a step or two ahead of the competition, and the 49ers will need to be at their best to navigate a challenging schedule filled with high-profile matchups against title contenders.

From a team-building perspective, the 49ers have a roster that doesn't have any glaring weaknesses at any key position, but the team has a few question marks at a few positions that elite opponents could exploit. That's why the team needed to address the Trent Williams situation before the season opener. The All-Pro tackle is a game-changer at the point of attack, showing strength and power while explosively dismantling defenders at the line of scrimmage.

Although Williams' absence provided another distraction while the team had to deal with another disgruntled player (Brandon Aiyuk) looking for a huge payday, the 49ers appear to have moved past their “me first” phase of the season, where players put their own interests above the good of the team. While Williams, Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey signed mega-deals to stay with the team, several players walk around the locker room knowing their time with the 49ers is coming to an end.

Are the 49ers in “now or never” mode to win the Super Bowl?

Being “under pressure” is no fun for star players, especially those with impressive resumes (see: Deebo Samuel and Kyle Juszczyk), but the urgency could ignite an energy in the locker room that leads to improved focus and attention to detail.

Urgency and pressure can also undermine team performance as players crumble under the enormous expectations. After Super Bowl LIV, the 49ers stumbled to a 6-10 record despite returning most of the players from the title race. Injuries and inconsistent performance torpedoed the team's chances and forced it to pick up the pieces the following season.

The 49ers hope to avoid a similar fate by relying on a core that knows how to win and dominate the NFC. With four NFC Championship Game appearances in the last five seasons, the 49ers' chances are hard to dismiss, but if they battle through the NFC with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles hot on their heels, the 49ers may have to wait a while longer before they can avenge another Super Bowl loss.

Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He also analyzes the game for NFL Network and co-hosts the podcast “Moving the Sticks.” Follow him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.

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