5 key takeaways from Chiefs vs. 49ers Week 7 Super Bowl LVIII rematch
The Chiefs and the 49ers met on the West Coast for a rematch of Super Bowl LVIII. The result was the same now as it was then as Kansas City came home from San Francisco with a 28-18 win. But beyond the scoreline, there were some other key takeaways from this game.
Chiefs 49ers takeaways from 2024 NFL season Week 7 Super Bowl LVIII rematch
#5 - Chiefs are now a defense-first team
Patrick Mahomes completed 16 of his 27 passes. He recorded 154 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 44.4. Anyone reading that would end up thinking that the opposition won. However, the reason that Kansas City could win even with such an atrocious performance from their quarterback, and indeed their whole offense, comes down to how well the Chiefs' defense is playing.
They tormented the 49ers offense on pretty much every drive. Brock Purdy was intercepted three times. He did not throw for a single touchdown. Their total yardage on the ground was 101 yards, which showed they were equally good at stopping the run as they were at breaking up passes. Kansas City has won their last three Super Bowls based on how well their offense played. Now, though, the Chiefs are a defense-first team.
#4 - Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes are in different leagues
Both Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy were intercepted multiple times. None of them threw for a touchdown, and both were missing top offensive weapons.
The 49ers saw Brandon Aiyuk get injured during the game. Moreover, Deebo Samuel did not feature prominently and left early, and Christian McCaffrey is still out. The Chiefs don't have Rashee Rice, Isiah Pacheco, and Hollywood Brown, while JuJu Smith-Schuster struggled with a hamstring issue today.
But when it mattered Patrick Mahomes pulled out a win. A memorable 33-yard line down the sideline changed the complexion of the game. Brock Purdy might be the next big thing, but he is not in the same league yet.
#3 - Super Bowl LIX unlikely to be a LVIII rematch at this rate
Coming into the season, the 49ers and the Chiefs were considered the favorites for the Super Bowl again. They had met in Super Bowl LVIII to conclude the 2023 season and each franchise looked like they had the best players who could lead to a repeat appearance.
Much has changed since then but Kansas City looks like a team that means business. They are now 6-0 for the season. After the Vikings were defeated by the Lions earlier, Andy Reid's team is the only one in the NFL with a perfect record in 2024.
San Francisco, meanwhile, is a middling team right now. They are second in the NFC West but it is only because the Cardinals and the Rams have also been inconsistent. The 49ers are 3-4 for the season and a game behind the Seattle Seahawks in their division. They look far away from the team that was the NFC top seed last year.
#2 - Offenses depleted further JuJu Smith-Schuster and Brandon Aiyuk injured
Both teams are still favored to make the playoffs but if they do, it will have to be done the hard way. Every team faces injury issues during a season, but the Chiefs and the 49ers are faring particularly badly in this department.
San Francisco is desperate to get Christian McCaffrey back. Jauan Jennings was missing in this game, and Deebo Samuel tried and failed to play more than a few snaps. Brandon Aiyuk's season might be over after a serious-looking injury.
The Chiefs are not faring much better either. JuJu Smith-Schuster picked up a hamstring injury today. They are already missing Isiah Pacheco, Rashee Rice, and Hollywood Brown for the long term. Andy Reid, Matt Nagy, and Patrick Mahomes keep defying belief in getting wins every week.
However, with potential postseason contenders like the Buffalo Bills adding Amari Cooper, and the New York Jets bringing in Davante Adams, the list of injuries could end up hampering them towards the business end of the season.
#1 - Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo have Kyle Shanahan's number
Kyle Shanahan has been the godfather of the new-style offenses that we are seeing around the league nowadays. But Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo are still flying the flag high for the older generation.
Steve Spagnuolo has now shut down the 49ers' vaunted offense in two straight games, including Super Bowl LVIII. Andy Reid, meanwhile, has a frankly unbelievable 5-0 record over Kyle Shanahan in the last five meetings, with two Super Bowl victories included therein.
Patrick Mahomes also has a 4-0 record against them now, including two of his three career championship wins coming against them. More than any physical improvement that San Francisco has to do now on the field, the mental block might prove insurmountable against Kansas City.