Chase Young Says 49ers' Defense Has 'Got to Do Better' in Super Bowl 58 vs. Chiefs

If the 49ers are going to beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, San Francisco defensive end Chase Young knows the defense needs to be much better than it was in the NFC Championship Game.

"The only thing we're worried about is doing our job every play and preparing for this game the best we can," Young told reporters Tuesday. "We have got to do better. You're going to see it this game."

In San Francisco's 34-31 win over the Detroit Lions in the NFCCG, the 49ers fell behind by as many as 17 points before charging back in the second half for the win.

The defense allowed Lions quarterback Jared Goff to throw for 273 yards and one touchdown, and it also allowed a combination of David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams to rush for 180 yards and three scores.

Speaking with reporters last week, 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks called his unit's play against the Lions "unacceptable."

"Collectively as a team, I can tell you as a defense it's unacceptable," Wilks said Friday, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner.

"We talked about that. I wish I could tell these guys on play four, on play 27, this is what's going to happen. You don't know. So, we've got to make sure that we play every down as if it's going to be the difference in the ball game. And you could see on those particular plays, it wasn't to our standard. Those guys understand and know that and quite honestly it was embarrassing."

Things won't get much easier for the 49ers this weekend at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium.

Mahomes is one of the most difficult quarterbacks to face in the NFL, and he has one of the best tight ends in the game as his top pass catcher in Travis Kelce.

Additionally, Isiah Pacheco has emerged as one of the most productive running backs in the league, and given Detroit's struggles defending the run of late, he could be in for a big game with the championship on the line.

The Chiefs are aiming to become the first team since the New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005 to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles. The 49ers, meanwhile, are aiming to win their first championship since 1995.