SANTA CLARA — Few NFL scenes are extra mesmerizing than what Andy Reid dials up and what Patrick Mahomes executes close to the aim line.
No crew has extra red-zone touchdowns than the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, the NFL’s highest-scoring crew total.
“We positively need to be on alert for that,” 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw mentioned. “Similar to within the (2019 season’s) Tremendous Bowl and what they have been doing, it was like a present.”
Can the 49ers’ protection crack that code when the Chiefs go to Levi’s Stadium on Sunday?
“We talked about that a little bit immediately and can get extra into it (Thursday),” defensive finish Nick Bosa mentioned. “That positively may very well be a giant turning level within the sport, if we're in a position to maintain them from getting seven (factors).”
They couldn’t final time they met, when back-to-back touchdowns on red-zone drives rallied the Chiefs previous the 49ers in Tremendous Bowl LIV, for a 31-20 win on Feb. 2, 2019.
“I hadn’t watched (that movie) for some time till these final two days,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned. “I don’t like watching it. However this week wasn’t about that. I watched it for schematic causes.”
So the best way to cease the Chiefs’ crimson zone schemes?
“Whenever you do cease stuff, that’s normally simply when the play will get began, too,” Shanahan added. “That’s why they’ve been constantly good.”
Decimated by accidents, the 49ers (3-3) are nonetheless permitting the league’s fewest yards and second-fewest factors. Now comes the duty of permitting as few as doable to Mahomes and, particularly, Travis Kelce. Six of Kelce’s seven landing catches this season have come from inside 10 yards.
Public service announcement: Sunday is the NFL’s “Nationwide Tight Ends Day” pseudo-campaign, which suggests Kelce and 49ers counterpart George Kittle ought to relish that highlight.
Kelce scored on a 1-yard catch within the Tremendous Bowl’s key drive in opposition to the 49ers, 4 performs after Mahomes’ 44-yard completion to Tyreke Hill on third-and-15. One drive later, the Chiefs seized the lead on a 5-yard landing move to Damien Williams.
The Chiefs’ extra memorable red-zone play in that Tremendous Bowl was on their first landing drive: On fourth-and-1 from the 5, Mahomes spun round with three others within the backfield, then a 4-yard run ensued to arrange Mahomes’ 1-yard landing run. The Chiefs exhumed that play from Michigan’s 1948 Rose Bowl vs. USC.
“They have been spinning,” Greenlaw recalled. “It was very inventive. We’ll be extra alert and know what we’re getting from Andy (Reid). We’ve received to be on our P’s and Q’s.”
*Forgive me on this. KC did not rating a TD on this play, simply transformed the fourth down proper earlier than their TD. Here is what they did: pic.twitter.com/tHmvex2O9y
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) February 3, 2020
This season, the 49ers’ red-zone protection ranks thirteenth, as opponents are changing 54 % of such journeys into touchdowns.
Awaiting them are the Chiefs’ array of pre-snap movement, shovel passes, play-action fakes, zone-read keepers and tons extra. Of Mahomes’ 17 landing passes, all however two have been contained in the crimson zone, and solely 4-of-17 have gone to extensive receivers.
“There should not many individuals within the historical past of soccer nearly as good as him,” Shanahan mentioned. “It jogs my memory of Elway, how he’s able to, how he’s a prime thrower on the planet, and the way in which he can transfer. He’s not all the time doing it with a flat-out 40 (-yard sprint), simply working away from folks, however the way in which he fills area and creates time.”
Statistically, the Chiefs go from going through one of many NFL’s greatest defenses to a different. Mahomes handed for 338 yards and two touchdowns (and two interceptions) in Sunday evening’s 24-20 dwelling loss to Buffalo. The Payments’ protection ranks first in factors allowed and second in yards allowed; the 49ers rank vice versa in these classes.
The 49ers’ comeback bid Sunday at Atlanta stalled within the fourth quarter on an agonizingly lengthy drive that lasted over 8 minutes and delved as deep because the Falcons’ 18-yard line. It resulted in no 49ers factors, and it primarily sealed a 28-14 defeat.
Shanahan’s crimson zone offense routinely has wavered in his six years, and this 12 months it’s scoring touchdowns on 58.8 % of the time, which ranks tied for 14th. In 2018, the 49ers ranked final (41.2-percent), and, in 2021, they ranked first (66.7-percent).
BOSA HEALTH CHECK
Defensive finish Nick Bosa feels “actually good” and is “fairly optimistic” about getting back from a groin problem, which “got here out of nowhere” to drive him out at halftime of the Oct. 9 win at Carolina and stored him from suiting up Sunday at Atlanta. Restricted in Wednesday’s observe, he was listed as questionable for that Falcons sport, however he revealed it was determined early within the week he’d skip that sport.
Bosa’s six sacks are only a half-sack off the NFL lead, held by Pittsburgh’s Alex Highsmith. “That dude is a monster on the market,” Mahomes mentioned of Bosa in his Wednesday press convention. “He does every part nicely, however clearly he’s extraordinarily good at speeding the passer with energy, with velocity.”
WILLIAMS, VERRETT RETURN
Left sort out Trent Williams is training for the primary time since a excessive ankle sprain Sept. 25 at Denver. Colton McKivitz and Jaylon Moore have began in his place since then. “Getting anyone again helps, and particularly getting these two again could be large,” Shanahan mentioned of Williams and Bosa.
Cornerback Jason Verrett practiced for the primary time in every week, and the 49ers have every week remaining on whether or not to activate him off the physically-unable-to-perform checklist. Verrett missed final Thursday’s and Friday’s periods due to soreness, and he confirmed no indicators of hindrance in his return.
TRADE TALK
Shanahan mentioned the 49ers will take a prudent strategy towards the Nov. 1 commerce deadline: “We’re not going to look into it any much less or any greater than anybody. If it will probably assist us and never threat a ton for the long run, it’s one thing we’ll do.”
The 49ers technically stay within the NFC West lead by advantage of their 2-0 division mark. 4 NFC groups have higher information: the Philadelphia Eagles (6-0), the Minnesota Vikings (5-1), the New York Giants (5-1) and the Dallas Cowboys (4-2). Solely 4 groups within the NFL have only one win apiece, however Shanahan doesn't assume that parity facet will reduce what’s obtainable on the commerce market, noting that depth charts and participant contracts are different components.
“We’re proper there with everybody else. Most of this league is fairly shut the identical spot,” Shanahan mentioned. “A few groups are forward of everybody, a pair behind everybody. We have now nearly as good an opportunity as anybody on this league.”
WARD’S CAST
Cornerback Jimmie Ward returned to observe with a mushy solid on his left hand, which required surgical procedure from an Oct. 9 fracture on the opening kickoff. “It doesn’t really feel nice, however I’ll determine it out. I’ve broke a number of bones on this league,” Ward mentioned. “I’ve been speaking a number of smack too so it’s going to be like dang, it’s going to be blood within the water. Going to be on the market preventing.”
OTHER INJURY UPDATES
Not training Wednesday have been security Talanoa Hufanga (concussion protocol), cornerback Charvarius Ward (groin), proper sort out Mike McGlinchey (left calf), defensive finish Samson Ebukam (Achilles) and defensive sort out Arik Armstead (ft, ankle). Defensive finish Drake Jackson (knee) was restricted, too.
ALUMNI WEEKEND
The 49ers’ annual alumni weekend will honor not solely Bryant Younger, a 2022 Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame inductee, but in addition the 2012 crew that gained the NFC Championship. Ex-coach Jim Harbaugh is planning to point out, he informed The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami, who reported that different anticipated attendees are Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Justin Smith and Vic Fangio.
Shanahan mentioned he didn't know whether or not Colin Kaepernick could be attending. The crew has not introduced the visitor checklist or a schedule of occasions.