Offensive lineman Dominick Puni and safety Malik Mustapha weren't on the roster when the San Francisco 49ers suffered a painful Super Bowl defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs. Although they haven't experienced that heartbreak firsthand, they've heard the locker room chatter and sensed the lingering emotions.
While Sunday's rematch with the Chiefs is officially treated as just another game, there's clearly an added intensity. Having lost two Super Bowls to the Chiefs, the 49ers are eager to show they can overcome this particular championship hurdle.
Addressing reporters on Monday, Mustapha spoke with the same resolve as if he'd been part of last season's team that narrowly missed out on hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
"It's kind of the history of facing this team," Mustapha said. "Two years, we faced them in the Super Bowl. Like last week, when I said the job that needs to be done, everybody understands, and everybody needs to know that we've got to play the same game.
"But at the same time, we know that it's a little bit more built up history, different kind of approach, different kind of motto, and I feel like everyone's going to be able to be ready for the challenge."
For Mustapha, that challenge includes trying to contain one of the NFL's best players: quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has never lost to the 49ers and has three Super Bowl rings, two of which came at the Bay Area team's expense.
"Probably one of the best quarterbacks in the game, so it's definitely going to be a challenge for us," Mustapha said. "And now, it's going to be another game for us DBs that we're going to be challenged. He's a guy that is good in the pocket, and also escaping the pocket is when he's most dangerous.
"So, we're going to try to do a good job containing him, but at the same time, being able to plaster on receivers and not let him make plays with his feet [or] let his playmakers make plays."
Meanwhile, Puni has a different task on his hands. The rookie offensive lineman will face five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has been a dominant force for Kansas City and is known for his ability to make big plays when it matters most—like putting pressure on quarterback Brock Purdy on third down in the Super Bowl, thwarted the 49ers' hopes of a go-ahead touchdown in overtime.
"I'm excited for it," Puni said of the matchup, explaining that he initially looked forward to facing Aaron Donald, having grown up a Los Angeles Rams fan. But with Donald's retirement, his focus has shifted.
"Obviously, I know how crazy of a challenge that would have been, but to just kind of say you did it (blocked Donald)," Puni explained. "But Chris Jones, he's in that echelon, too—one of the best D-tackles, if not the best, in the league, so I'm excited for it. It'll be a great matchup and, hopefully, propel me for the rest of the season, too."
Puni began studying film on Jones on Monday, and he's already impressed.
"Just his playmaking ability," he said. "He just shows up in big moments, so I think that's his X-factor, and that's what he brings to the team."
The 49ers may be leading the NFC West, but they didn't expect to do so with a 3-3 record. Meanwhile, the Chiefs remain one of only two undefeated teams, making Sunday's task an uphill battle.
Regarding the Super Bowl rematch aspect, the 49ers are focusing on the present. Improving to 4-3 and building momentum for the season is far more important than dwelling on the past.
"It's definitely in the back of our minds," Mustapha said of the rematch aspect. "But it's a long season, and we can't just worry about putting all our ducks in a row against one team. We've gotta set this up for us long-term, finish out the season how we want to, and build that into the playoffs as well.
"So, there's a 1-0 mentality week by week, so this is another team that's in our way."
