The Kansas City Chiefs rebounded after a Week 6 loss by jumping all over the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of Sunday’s game from Levi Stadium. Mecole Hardman had three touchdowns in the 44-23 victory in the Bay.
Chiefs dominate Niners D
It was the league’s top ranked offense coming into the home of the NFL’s best defense, and the Chiefs showed just how potent their offense can be with a 30 point second half to run away with the Week 7 win.
The Niners went all in this season when they traded for former Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffery earlier this week. The new 49er surprised everyone with the amount he touched the ball against the Chiefs. He started the day with a 10 yard run on his first play in a San Fran jersey.
That helped the Niners open the game with a field goal, and then a Talanoa Hufanga interception set up a short touchdown drive. Jimmy Garoppolo hit Ray McCloud in the end zone for an eight yard TD pass to put the Niners up 10-0.
Hardman's busy day in the Bay
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs would not be held quiet for long. At the end of the first quarter Mahomes hit Hardman on a pitch pass for the receivers first of three touchdowns.
Hardman got his second touchdown less than 10 minutes later to take the lead mid way through the second quarter. It came on another jet sweep from the 25 yard line and Hardman followed his blocker into the end zone to make it 14-13.
The Niners had a chance to take the lead late in the first half when Skyy Moore muffed a punt inside the Chiefs 20 yard line, but Jimmy Garoppolo would let KC off the hook when he threw a pick in the end zone with time for Mahomes to drive down the field. The visitors got down to the SF 41 yard line, but Harrison Butker missed the field goal to send the Chiefs to the break up by one.
Chiefs put up 30 in last 30 minutes
Isiah Pacheco started the second half off with a bang when he returned the kickoff 49 yards, and an unnecessary roughness flag put the Chiefs at the San Fran 33 yard line. Three plays later it was Edwards-Helaire running in a 15 yard touchdown to stretch the lead to 21-13.
All too often, San Francisco would get down the field with ease, but then their offense would shut down into scoring territory. After going down eight, they drove down the field but settled for a field goal against so but the lead to five but a Chiefs touchdown on the next possession would make it a two score game.
The Niners defense gave up a 3rd and 20 conversion on the next possession which would lead to a four yard TD pass from Mahomes to Justin Watson to make it 28-16.
Chiefs 3rd and long conversions kill SF comeback
Garoppolo and the Niners would answer with one final touchdown, but the San Fran offense ran out of steam after Garoppolo found Kittle on a 15 yard TD pass to bring it to a five point game again.
After another third down and long conversion deep in KC territory, the Chiefs would put the game out of reach with Hardman’s third TD of the game. It would come off of another jet sweep for the three yard TD run to put KC up 35-23.
A Frank Clark safety on Jimmy Garopplo added insult to injury, as the Chiefs added two points on to their lead and got the ball back. Juju Smith-Schuster put the icing on the cake with a 45 yard TD on another 3rd down conversion to finish off another brilliant offensive performance.
Mahomes with another MVP performance before bye
Mahomes ended the game with 423 yards and 3 touchdowns and 1 interception, while Hardman had 60 total yards with two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown and the Chiefs will get to enjoy their bye week on the heels of a blowout victory.
Garoppolo had 303 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. McCaffery had 38 yards rushing and 24 yards receiving, but the Niners defense will have to steady up before the divisional game against the Los Angeles Rams next week.
