What the San Francisco 49ers Can Learn From the Vegas Golden Knights

Believe me when I say I'm not fond of writing this article. The San Francisco 49ers had a chance to win Super Bowl 58, only to fall short in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a rough game to watch, having your soul ripped out of your chest like Johnny Cage pulled it out.

But that's where we stand. Finger pointing and injuries did the team in, leaving Patrick Mahomes with another Lombardi trophy. But never fear! The Vegas Golden Knights are here and they've been through the same crap!

The defending Stanley Cup champs have a crash course on handling everything, from sticking together through tough times to handling superstars and franchises that East Coast networks go gaga over! Take notes, 49ers, because the Vegas Golden Knights are giving you a lesson on handling the pressure!

1. Stick to the Gameplan Until the Time's Right

Bruce Cassidy is good at making necessary changes to his lineup. If he sees a particular player not meshing with a line, he'll make changes. This has saved the Golden Knights many times, especially during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The problem with Kyle Shanahan is he tends to abandon what got him there once he's comfortable. He spent most of the third quarter relying on Brock Purdy to pass and get first downs. Instead of relying on your young quarterback for big plays, why not give the ball to, say, Christian McCaffrey?

The beauty of Bruce Cassidy is he doesn't make his changes unless it starts to fail. He knows when to pull the trigger on a big change. For Shanahan, it's like his hands clam up and he must take a big chance, like, right now. Hence, moments like 28-3 or Super Bowl 54 happen.

2. Keep Your Composure

It's story time, Niners faithful. So gather around! In Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals last season, the Vegas Golden Knights were up 3-0. Everything's all cool and cozy, with the Knights kicking their feet up and heading into the Fortress with a 3-1 series lead. Then, four minutes into the third period, the Florida Panthers are down by one. OH MY GOODNESS! MASS HYSTERIA! MON DIEU!

But the Golden Knights didn't flinch. Instead, they doubled down the remaining 16 minutes to hold on for a 3-2 victory. The next game? They hoisted the Stanley Cup in a rout, 9-3, at T-Mobile Arena. Same thing when the Dallas Stars were given a glimmer of hope in last season's Western Conference Finals. Vegas blew the Stars out of the water in Game 6, winning the series, 4-2.

It seems like the slightest inconvenience breaks the San Francisco 49ers when they're ahead. From Patrick Mahomes converting a fourth-and-one in overtime this year to Jacquiski Tartt dropping a crucial interception in the NFC Championship a couple of years back, they can't get out of their own way.

For Vegas, stuff like this used to happen (look at Marc-Andre Fleury's mishap in the 2020-2021 playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens as an example). But the group has fortified themselves without pointing fingers. The 49ers need to be on the same page the way the Vegas Golden Knights are.