Kyle Shanahan, 49ers Players Speak to Media Following NFC Championship Game | 49ers

Summary

The transcript covers post-game press conferences with the San Francisco 49ers players and coaches after their dramatic comeback victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship game. It focuses on quarterback Brock Purdy and how he engineered the second half comeback, the key late defensive stops, George Kittle's thoughts on returning to the Super Bowl, and Brandon Aiyuk's incredible bouncing catch. The team shows its resilience and discusses maintaining belief down 17-0 at halftime to pull off the win in a game that exemplifies the 49ers' toughness and talent.

Takeaways

• 😊 The 49ers came back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Cowboys in the playoffs.
• 👏 George Kittle talked about the team's resilience and refusal to give up.
• ⚽️ Brandon Aiyuk made a clutch diving catch that ignited the 49ers' comeback.
• 🏈 Brock Purdy's scrambling and playmaking energized the 49ers in the second half.
• 👍 Nick Bosa said the defense locked in during halftime to fix mistakes.
• 🔒 The 49ers defense got key fourth down stops to shift momentum.
• 🙌 Kyle Shanahan praised the team's character and "love for each other".
• 🏆 The 49ers are excited for a Super Bowl rematch against the Chiefs.
• 🧠 Fred Warner's high football IQ helped the 49ers dominate on defense.
• 🏟 George Kittle said the home crowd gave the 49ers a major boost.

Q & A

What was the mood of the 49ers players at halftime when they were down 17 points?

The players were extremely pissed off and focused. Kyle Shanahan said they had too much respect for themselves and the team to go out that way in the first half.

How important was the fourth down stop by the 49ers defense in the third quarter?

The fourth down stop was huge in shifting momentum. It prevented the Lions from extending their lead and gave the 49ers offense an opportunity to cut into the deficit.

What sparked the 49ers comeback in the second half?

A few key plays ignited the comeback - Brandon Aiyuk's clutch 25-yard catch, the turnover forced by Gipson, and Brock Purdy's scrambling for big gains. This shifted momentum fully in the 49ers' favor.

How did Brock Purdy perform in bringing the team back from a 17-point deficit?

Purdy made big plays with his legs, converting key first downs. He kept drives going and competed fiercely. His scrambling was a major factor in the comeback.

What makes the 49ers so resilient in playoff games?

The 49ers have strong team chemistry and care deeply about each other. They have a core group used to adversity, which allows them to bounce back when faced with challenges.

How did the 49ers feel about matching up with the Chiefs in the Super Bowl?

They have great respect for the Chiefs as a team and organization. But after falling just short the past few years, the 49ers are extremely excited and determined to seize this opportunity.

What did Brandon Aiyuk say about the 49ers starting slow the past two playoff games?

He credited their opponents for having good game plans early on. But he emphasized the 49ers' ability to figure things out at halftime and dominate in the second half.

What has George Kittle learned from losing in the last two NFC title games?

He is focusing on what he can control - working harder in the offseason physically and mentally to put himself in a position to succeed.

How did Nick Bosa try to rally the defense at halftime?

He was screaming random things to fire up his teammates, telling them to just do their jobs, take away the QB's first read, and the defense would start getting pressure and stops.

Why does George Kittle think overcoming 17-point deficits in the playoffs will help them?

It creates an urgent sense that they have things to tighten up and prepares them better mentally for the challenges they'll face against a great Chiefs team in the Super Bowl.