Kyle Shanahan delivered the joke and the 49ers completed the punch line.
Long before Seattle Seahawks star DK Metcalf was sent off in the 49ers' 28-16 win at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, the San Francisco coach was said to have given his team some holiday cheer as they get under the wideout's skin could.
Shanahan predicted Metcalf's in-game collapse during a team meeting Saturday night, Mike Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle reported in his latest column. He showed the 49ers players video clips of the receiver's previous outbursts and jokingly gave them some motivation to unleash one in their Week 14 game.
“We're going to get '14' to lose our minds,” Shanahan told his players, per Silver, before jokingly promising, “Christmas present to whoever gets it.”
Well, it looks like Fred Warner will be handing Shanahan his Christmas list soon.
The 49ers linebacker and Metcalf got involved late in Sunday's game after Warner intercepted a pass from Seahawks backup quarterback Drew Lock. After Metcalf attacked Warner by knocking him to the ground, Warner pushed Metcalf's head toward the turf and a scuffle ensued at midfield.
“Yeah, I don’t know what happened, man,” Warner told reporters after the game. “I told him he tackled really well and then for some reason he didn’t like it. I guess what happened happened. It’s unfortunate, man.”
“[He’s] I had to learn to keep my composure, but I’m glad we came out with the synchronization.”
Metcalf and 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir were sent off after the scuffle. That meant Metcalf ended the game with two receptions for 52 yards and a 31-yard touchdown after the 49ers' top cornerback, Charvarius Ward, was sidelined with a groin injury.
While it remains to be seen whether the No. 9 seed Seahawks will make it to the NFC playoffs and face the 49ers, San Francisco will certainly look to beat Metcalf again in the future after their season win over Seattle.
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