Grading KC Chiefs in Super Bowl rematch vs. 49ers (they didn’t need OT this time)
The Super Bowl rematch goes to the Chiefs.
Kansas City leaned on its stellar defense and running game to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 28-18 in the teams’ first meeting since the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII early this year.
The Chiefs didn’t need overtime Sunday, as they did in beating the Niners for their second straight NFL championship in Las Vegas this past February.
Next: The Chiefs stay on the road to take on the Las Vegas Raiders next weekend in Nevada. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, and the game will be broadcast on CBS.
KC STAR OF THE GAME
Mecole Hardman loves playing against the 49ers. He had the game-winning touchdown reception in the Super Bowl, and the only three-touchdown game of his career came against San Francisco.
This time he had a 55-yard punt return, which help set up the Chiefs’ second touchdown, and an 18-yard touchdown run that all but sealed the game.
Passing offense: D
Patrick Mahomes got unlucky on a first-quarter interception as Niners 310-pound tackle Kalia Davis tipped the pass to himself.
But it marked Mahomes’ seventh straight game with a pick, a run that dates to Super Bowl LVIII and now matches a career long. His second interception, in the third quarter, happened when Xavier Worthy slipped.
This was a bad game for Mahomes in terms of quarterback rating. He had a rating of 44.4 — the lowest of his career. But he ran in a TD and ultimately logged another victory.
Rushing offense: A
Ah, and here’s where Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs excelled.
The KC running game has become increasingly important with its thinning wide receiver corps. RB Kareem Hunt and the offensive line has delivered.
Hunt followed Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith and Joe Thuney into the end zone twice in the first half, with TE Travis Kelce also delivering key blocks.
The best run of the game belonged to Mahomes: a 33-yard scamper that was boosted by two pump-fakes en route. That run to the 49ers’ 4-yard line set up the Chiefs’ third touchdown — Mahomes’ fourth-down keeper from the 1.
The TD play began with Mahomes in shotgun and ended with Mahomes trucking Malik Mustapha at the goal line. That’s the closest the Chiefs will come to a quarterback keeper with Mahomes at QB.
Two touchdown runs for Hunt, who totaled 78 yards on 22 attempts, plus TD runs for Hardman and Mahomes ... it all added up to the 186 rushing yards the Chiefs gained as a team.
Passing defense: A
Chris Roland-Wallace, a undrafted free agent who had played all of his snaps — save one — on special teams, stopped a 49ers drive with a third-quarter interception. Meanwhile, All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie is still looking for his first career pick.
Jaden Hicks, a drafted rookie from Washington State University, also got his first NFL pick. DE George Karlaftis pressured Niners QB Brock Purdy and forced a bad throw to the end zone that Hicks grabbed.
The Chiefs aren’t the only team with issues at wide receiver. The 49ers were down Jauan Jennings, who didn’t play, Deebo Samuel, who left the game early with an illness, and Brandon Aiyuk, who departed after a hit from Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner.
Former Chiefs WR Chris Conley was San Francisco’s best remaining option.
A Justin Reid interception and a Karlaftis sack were among the Chiefs’ big plays early. By day’s end KC had come up with three picks. And that was huge for a defense that entered this game with just two all season.
Rushing defense: B
Defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah got his first start of the season Sunday.
And the Lee’s Summit native and K-State product helped the Chiefs continue their knack of limiting the productivity of the opponent’s top running back. With Christian McCaffrey out, that was Jordan Mason.
Mason finished with 58 rushing yards as the 49ers’ running game picked up steam in the second half. Not a banner day for one of the NFL’s best rushers.
Special teams: B
The first kicking-game fake of the season blew up in the Chiefs’ face.
A snap to Hicks, the up-back, went for 1 yard. The Chiefs needed 2. This came after the Chiefs’ defense had held the 49ers to a three-and-out on their first drive. But the KC defense got Hicks off the hook with Justin Reid’s interception on the very next snap.
Hardman’s big punt return was a pivotal early play, and Chiefs punter Matt Araiza boomed three kicks for a 59.7-yard average.
The Chiefs sent their onside-kick receiving team onto the field in the final minute. But the ball didn’t travel 10 yards, so KC took over and was able to kneel out the clock.
This story was originally published October 20, 2024 at 6:37 PM.