Things didn’t go to plan for the San Francisco 49ers in their highly-anticipated Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. Despite scoring the first points of the contest, the 49ers found themselves trailing 14-6 to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs at halftime.
Anytime the 49ers created any sort of momentum, a turnover stunted San Francisco’s chances of taking any control in the contest. After pulling within two points in the third quarter, a pair of interceptions from Brock Purdy helped the Chiefs rattle off 14 straight points to secure a rather dominant 28-18 win over the 49ers in Santa Clara.
With an underwhelming loss to the Chiefs, the 49ers fell to 3-4 to start the 2024 campaign. Following their 28-18 loss in Week 7, here’s some of the good and all of the bad from Sunday.
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Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) walks on the field before the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Heading into Sunday’s contest, the 49ers were missing key playmakers Christian McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings. By the end of the game, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk were also sidelined for the 49ers.
Samuel played three snaps in the first half before being ruled out due to an illness against the Chiefs. Yet, before halftime, the injury bug continued to bite the 49ers.
After being helped off the field in the second quarter, Aiyuk was carted from the sideline to the locker room before halftime. Aiyuk appeared to be pointing at his knee as he was carted off the field.
Following the game, Kyle Shanahan told reporters that the 49ers feared Aiyuk has suffered an ACL injury.
Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis (56) in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Brock Purdy struggled on Sunday against the Chiefs, posting his first three-interception performance of the 2024 campaign. Purdy finished the game with 212 yards on 17-of-31 passing with a trio of interceptions. The former Iowa State Cyclone finished with an season-low 36.7 quarterback rating
Facing Steve Spagnuolo’s press coverage, Purdy’s timing appeared off, missing multiple throws and being on different pages from his pass catchers. Purdy never was able to string multiple throws together or connect for an explosive play until it was too late.
Even on a big gain late to rookie Jacob Cowing, Purdy underthrew what looked like could be a walk-in touchdown. After a 41-yard gain to Cowing, Purdy threw an interception in the endzone three plays later.
Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) is unable to make a catch next to Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Connected with Brock Purdy’s struggles was the coaching battle between Kyle Shanahan’s offensive approach and Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. After Spagnuolo appeared to control their matchup in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs defense got the better of Shanahan and the 49ers offense again on Sunday.
Facing constant tight-man coverage throughout the game, the 49ers struggled to get anything going offensively on Sunday.
While Purdy struggled through the air, Jordan Mason and the 49ers’ rushing attack was held in check against the Chiefs. Mason finished the game with 58 yards on 14 carries, his lowest mark of his 2024 breakout campaign.
Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) scores a touchdown next to San Francisco 49ers safety Malik Mustapha (6) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Through most of the game, rookie safety Malik Mustapha was a bright spot for the 49ers’ defense. The rookie brought a sense of physicality to the 49ers secondary. Mustapha showed off his big-hitting ability with a pair of powerful tackles. Each of Mustapha’s big hits provided a spark to the 49ers defense and got the crowd going at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Yet, Mustapha’s performance will likely be defined by one play.
With the 49ers trailing by only two points, San Francisco’s defense pushed the Chiefs to fourth and goal from the one-yard line. Instead of taking the field goal, Andy Reid elected to go for it on fourth down.
On fourth down, Patrick Mahomes scrambled up the middle for a one-yard touchdown. On the way to the end zone, Mahomes ran over the 49ers rookie safety.
Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (14) catches a pass before the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Along with a Super Bowl rematch, Sunday marked the highly-anticipated debut of rookie Ricky Pearsall.
Following a six-week absence after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest in late August, the rookie out of Florida made his comeback on Sunday in Santa Clara.
In his first NFL game, the 2024 first-round pick finished with three receptions for 21 yards against the Chiefs.
With multiple injuries to the wide receiver core, Pearsall will likely have the opportunity to be a significant part of the 49ers passing game.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 20: Kareem Hunt #29 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs for a touchdown during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
While Brock Purdy didn’t have his best performance through the air on Sunday, neither did Patrick Mahomes. The 49ers defense held Mahomes in check for the most part of the game, even securing a pair of interceptions off of the former MVP.
Mahomes finished with only 154 yards passing on 16-of-27 with two interceptions. Yet, the 49ers’ defense couldn’t figure out the Chiefs’ rushing attack led by veteran Kareem Hunt.
The Chiefs rushed for 178 yards with four rushing touchdowns on Sunday, led by Hunt with 78 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns. Mahomes rushed for 39 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman added 38 yards on the ground and a touchdown on a pair of rushes.
Kansas City’s 178 yards on the ground was the highest rushing total the 49ers’ defense has allowed this season. Prior to Sunday, the 49ers only allowed over 100 rushing yard twice during the 2024 season.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 20: Anders Carlson #41 celebrates with Mitch Wishnowsky #3 of the San Francisco 49ers after a second quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi’s Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The 49ers’s special teams struggles have become a staple of Niners Wire’s weekly “good and bad” postgame story. On Sunday, the 49ers were marred by special teams follies yet again against the Chiefs.
While the 49ers did slow down an attempted fake kick, punt coverage was a problem on Sunday. In the second quarter, Mecole Hardman took a punt from Mitch Wishnowsky 55 yards to set Mahomes and the Chiefs up with solid field position. Seven plays later, the Chiefs used their short field to punch in a touchdown to take a 14-3 lead.
An exclamation point was put on the 49ers’ special teams struggles at the end of the game when Wishnowsky dribbled an ugly attempt at an onside kick.
