When San Francisco 49ers fans think of their team's Achilles heel—that one opponent who always seems to have their number—Patrick Mahomes likely comes to mind. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is a perfect 5-0 against the 49ers, including two devastating Super Bowl victories that left a lasting mark on the Faithful.
However, in identifying each NFL team's Achilles heel, Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus (PFF) named not Mahomes, but Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow as the 49ers' Achilles heel.
That choice may raise some eyebrows. After all, Burrow has only faced the 49ers twice, splitting the series 1-1, with both games occurring during the regular season, far less of an emotional impact than the high-stakes matchups with Mahomes.
So why Burrow? Wasserman's analysis relies on performance metrics, rather than win-loss records or postseason heartbreak. His list highlights the highest-graded player against each team over the past five seasons. And by the numbers, Burrow has quietly dominated in his appearances against San Francisco.
"In two career matchups against San Francisco, Burrow has posted a 91.5 PFF passing grade while throwing five touchdowns and no interceptions," Wasserman noted. "He also produced eight big-time throws compared to two turnover-worthy plays in those games."
In addition to his five touchdowns against the 49ers, Burrow has completed 53 of his 66 pass attempts for 631 yards against San Francisco's defense.
Still, while the analytics data may favor Burrow, many 49ers fans would argue that Mahomes, who boasts two Super Bowl wins over San Francisco, remains the more painful thorn in the team's side.