{"id":679263,"date":"2026-01-15T13:05:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T13:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/679263\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T13:05:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T13:05:17","slug":"49ers-seduced-by-super-bowl-prep-at-levis-stadium-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/679263\/","title":{"rendered":"49ers seduced by Super Bowl prep at Levi’s Stadium"},"content":{"rendered":"

SANTA CLARA \u2013 Supersized white tents and metal scaffolding are going up around Levi\u2019s Stadium\u2019s<\/a> perimeter.<\/p>\n

Inside, strict security is in place as work crews shuffle through the cinder-block corridors and mysterious rooms to prepare for Super Bowl LX<\/a>, taking place here Feb. 8 on just-installed green sod.<\/p>\n

\"WorkersWorkers prepare for the Super Bowl at Levi\u2019s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (Shae Hammond\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 49ers<\/a> can\u2019t ignore this. One player called the event prep \u201cannoying,\u201d but others acknowledged it is the NFL\u2019s ultimate carrot, seducing them right at their own home.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I look at it, I\u2019m thinking of it like, \u2018They\u2019re getting it ready for us,\u2019\u201d defensive tackle Kalia Davis told the Bay Area News Group. \u201cWe\u2019re fighting for a home game on the last game of the year, most definitely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because they\u2019re the No. 6 seed, the 49ers (13-5) won\u2019t be home for any playoff game unless they string three road wins together for the NFC\u2019s Super Bowl<\/a> berth.<\/p>\n

They won their fifth straight road game Sunday by eliminating the defending champion<\/a> and No. 3-seed Eagles, 23-19 in Philadelphia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"SanSan Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) celebrates as he walks off the field after an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Terrance Williams)\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe closer you get to (the Super Bowl), the more the possibility becomes real,\u201d defensive end Sam Okuayinonu said. \u201cBut we stay where our foot is and we have Seattle ahead of us now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, the 49ers are intensely focused on Saturday\u2019s 5 p.m. rematch in Seattle against the No. 1-seed Seahawks. Winner goes to the Jan. 25 NFC Championship Game, against whoever advances Sunday between the No. 5 Los Angeles Rams and host No. 2 Chicago Bears.<\/p>\n

Had the Bears lost last Saturday\u2019s wild-card thriller to the No. 7 Green Bay Packers, that would have kept the door open for a possible 49ers-Packers NFC finale at Levi\u2019s Stadium.<\/p>\n

\"SANTASANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 19: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) congratulates San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) after winning the NFC Championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers 37-20. (Jose Carlos Fajardo\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0Jose Carlos Fajardo\/Bay Area News Group<\/p>\n

Only the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers have pulled off what the 49ers are attempting: a wild-card run over three road trips to eventually hoist the Lombardi Trophy on home turf.<\/p>\n

Home sweet home has changed, however. Some signs listing off team mottos \u2013 like staying humble and focusing on themselves \u2014 have been taken down over doors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was like, \u2018Why would they take them down now? I feel like we still need them,\u2019\u201d right guard Dominick Puni said. \u201cSo, yeah, it\u2019s got to be for the Super Bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n

Players were given special passes into their parking lot, even though security guards already recognize their cars by now. No one will deem tighter security a burden.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the price you pay for the Super Bowl,\u201d said Puni, who was a high school sophomore defensive lineman in the St. Louis suburbs a decade ago when Levi\u2019s Stadium hosted Super Bowl 50 (Denver 24, Carolina 10).<\/p>\n

Such construction chaos wasn\u2019t an issue a decade ago. The 49ers had just completed a 5-11 season and transitioning coaches from Jim Tomsula to Chip Kelly.<\/p>\n

\"FansFans arrive before Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 49ers have defeated each of the three other teams remaining in the NFC, though they lost rematches at home to the Rams and the Seahawks.<\/p>\n

And now the 49ers are packing their bags for a seventh road trip in their past 12 games. They\u2019re 8-2 overall on the road, losing Oct. 12 at Tampa Bay (30-19) and Oct. 26 at Houston (26-15); they\u2019ve outscored their hosts 275-214, starting with a 17-13 win in the season opener at Seattle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to talk too much about last week but I can vouch for the fact the atmosphere is going to be just as electric going up to Seattle,\u201d linebacker Eric Kendricks said. \u201cThat\u2019s what makes football fun. We\u2019re on the road, in a hostile environment. People want to see us fail.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s about bringing your pads on the road, like Fred (Warner) told me today,\u201d Kendricks added. \u201cSo bring your pads on the road and be ready to hit somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two wins from now, those shoulder pads could be waiting for them at their home stadium, where their lobby\u2019s Lombardi Trophy case hasn\u2019t expanded in 31 years.<\/p>\n

\u201c \u2029Honestly, I look at it like, dang, it\u2019s cool is the (49ers\u2019) owner to be able to do this,\u201d wide receiver Jauan Jennings said. \u201cHe\u2019s got general contractors out here getting it in. That\u2019s cool. That\u2019s how I look at it \u2019cause, they\u2019re at work and I\u2019m heading into work.\u201d<\/p>\n

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