Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass as San Francisco 49ers defensive back Nick Bosa (97) gives chase in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVIII. Mandatory Credit: Image Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Of course the 49ers want another shot at the Kansas City Chiefs, a replay of the Super Bowl in Las Vegas in what was a forgettable February afternoon for San Francisco.
The Chiefs are chasing a three-peat and are off to a 5-0 start, stringing together an 11-game winning streak dating back to last Christmas through the postseason. The biggest win of the batch was a 25-22 overtime victory in which the Chiefs overcame a 10-point deficit and captured the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LVIII.
San Francisco is 3-3 after firing head coach Kyle Shanahan called it a “must win” in the locker room before the NFC West grudge matchup in Seattle on Oct. 10. He won’t be away this week, but he can’t resist. how important the 49ers believe Sunday can be to the 2024 season.
“I try to have the same conversation every week, just different — I don’t want to say ‘must win,'” Shanahan said. “I look at this game like I look at all games. Every game is important. But I didn’t choose that word (must win) this week.”
When the 49ers are relatively rested from the window of 10 days between games and want a rematch, the time of rolling out the red carpet for the crownbearer of the NFL is not entirely perfect. Kansas City had last week.
Head coach Andy Reid had the highest winning percentage in the NFL coming out of the week. He is 21-4 (.840), including an 8-3 record coming out of the bye week in the regular season with Kansas City.
Besides, the Niners aren’t the picture of health. They are still without 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey, and his backup, Jordan Mason, the No. 2 rusher in the NFL this season, left last week’s game with a sprained shoulder.
Also, 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hip) and kicker Jake Moody (sprained right ankle) did not practice Wednesday. Wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. (wrist) limited.
Defensive end Mike Danna (pectoral) was the lone player who did not practice for the Chiefs.
Shanahan said scheme changes have been common in the matchup with the Chiefs, changing the tendencies of the offense and defense in the fourth quarter in particular. The bottom line for all opponents trying to tackle Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“Everybody says ‘down year’ because the numbers are not just crazy. But Pat is as good as it gets,” said Shanahan, who is 0-7 in his career against Reid as an assistant or head coach. “He’s been great since his first year playing. All but one game has come down to the last possession, and he’s been really good in those situations.”
Shanahan’s record vs. Reid included two losses in 49ers-Chiefs Super Bowl matchups. Kansas City defeated San Francisco 31-20 in February 2020.
Injuries were not the excuse the Chiefs gave. Although fresh after the week, Kansas City is far from full strength with 12 games to go in the regular season.
The Chiefs lead the West without No. 1 running back Isiah Pacheco (foot) and the team’s top two wide receivers, Hollywood Brown (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (knee), who are all on injured reserve. A familiar face joined the Chiefs in recent weeks and now plays a key role alongside Mahomes. Kareem Hunt worked as a top running back for the Chiefs, and Kansas City rediscovered JuJu Smith-Schuster, signed on the road in August, in a seven-catch, 130-meter effort in week 5 vs. New Orleans.
The roulette depth-chart also invites Mahomes to reconnect with Travis Kelce. The tight end has had 16 catches for 159 yards in the past two games, a key part of Mahomes’ mentality of not crying that he isn’t available for certain games.
“I’m just excited for the guys who continue to get better every week,” Mahomes said. “I think we have the guys to do it.”
Relatively modest offensive numbers to start this season off of Mahomes’ best statistical season. He has as many TDs (six) as INTs in 2024. Kansas City enters the week 15th in scoring (23.6 per game), ninth in passing (236.8 yards per game) and 11th in total offense (354.6 yards per game ).
Reid said avoiding penalties and turnovers is an emphasis after self-scout during the bye week.
“We can do a better job of not stopping,” Reid said. “Whether it’s a penalty or a dropped ball, we’ve had a few. Schematically, we’re back and we’re able to deal with it. positions.”
The 49ers thrived even with their developing players, averaging 27 points (ninth in the league), 420 total yards (second), 262 yards (second) and 158 rushing yards (third) entering Week 7. And only four teams have fewer. defensive takeaways from the Chiefs (four).
However, as 49ers linebacker Fred Warner painfully framed this week, Mahomes has never lost to the 49ers. He is 4-0 with 1,356 passing yards (339 per contest), 11 TDs (10 passing, one rushing) with a combined passer rating of 104.6 when facing San Francisco.
“He still got 15 more. I haven’t beaten him yet,” Warner said. “I’ve played against him probably four times now and haven’t been able to beat him. I think it’s an important game for us to try and get over that hump and get a win.”
With a win Sunday in Santa Clara, Kansas City will become the 10th defending Super Bowl champion to start next season 6-0. The only times the Chiefs started 6-0 were 2003, when they finished 13-3 but lost in the AFC divisional playoffs, and 2013, when they went 11-5 and fell in the AFC wild-card game.
–Field Level Media
