SANTA CLARA – Right here is how the 49ers (3-4) graded of their 44-23 loss to the visiting Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (5-2):
PASS OFFENSE: C-
The general stats replicate a good day, however Jimmy Garoppolo was underneath stress to the tune of 5 sacks, certainly one of which resulted in a security amid the 49ers’ fourth-quarter fade. Garoppolo handed for 303 yards, however he had an ill-conceived lob yield a goal-line interception in a sport the 49ers couldn't afford to throw away any possessions, a lot much less a gifted one like that. George Kittle’s fourth-quarter landing catch highlighted his six-catch, 98-yard effort – the identical catch totals, minus the landing, by the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce on Nationwide Tight Ends Day. Danny Grey stays in quest of his first NFL catch after one other fruitless deep route. Ray-Ray McCloud made a pleasant landing catch on a Garoppolo rollout.
RUN OFFENSE: C-
Christian McCaffrey reeled off runs of 10 and 9 yards on his first two carries – on his first-ever 49ers drive – however ended with simply 38 yards on eight whole carries. In probably his ultimate begin now that McCaffrey is right here, Jeff Wilson Jr. had 54 yards (seven carries). None of their 21 rushes ended in the long run zone, and though they produced 101 yards and a 4.8-yard common, the 49ers merely couldn’t rely extra on their speeding assault in one other sport of catch-up.
PASS DEFENSE: F
Patrick Mahomes handed for 423 yards and three touchdowns, which was stunning solely that it got here towards a protection that had allowed solely 4 landing passes all season. The 49ers couldn’t get to Mahomes, with Bosa typically drawing double-team blocks besides on his fourth-quarter sack. Nothing appeared extra harking back to the 2019 49ers’ Tremendous Bowl collapse than one other fourth-quarter bomb by Mahomes, and that 57-yard hookup with Marquez Valdes-Scantling got here simply after the 49ers pulled inside 28-23. The one play made by the 49ers’ secondary was on the primary drive, when Talanoa Hufanga intercepted a third-down cross tipped by Tashaun Gipson Sr. One play that exemplified Mahomes’ magic: Drake Jackson practically dropped him for an 18-yard sack, just for Mahomes to seek out Kelce for a midfield completion.
RUN DEFENSE: F
This isn't an awesome pattern, not after how the Falcons bullied them and the Chiefs raced previous them. This sport introduced three landing runs allowed by a protection that yielded solely 4 all season. Extra alarming was how straightforward these runs appeared, beginning with Mecole Hardman’s 25-yard sideline scamper that put the Chiefs in entrance, for good. “We made some errors, together with myself, within the first half that allowed them to remain on the sphere,” Bosa stated. “Once you don’t power them to get into passing conditions, you allow them to fall ahead to get 5-yard runs, you’re by no means within the place you wish to be in.” Bosa stated the onus this sport was on the defensive position to cease the run, with the intention to assist a secondary positive to be examined by Mahomes’ arm. Everybody failed, and the 49ers actually aren’t getting the blockade wanted from their entrance.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C-
Permitting a 48-yard kick return was a horrendous method to begin the second half, after which Jauan Jennings’ late hit made that play even worse. Robbie Gould made all three of his area targets, and he ought to have had a shot at a 51-yarder if not for Jaylon Moore’s false-start penalty that as an alternative summoned Mitch Wishnowsky for his lone punt. Sam Womack III recovered a fumble on the following muffed return by Skyy Moore, however the 49ers offense couldn’t convert as Garoppolo responded with a goal-line interception.
COACHING: D+
Scoring solely 23 factors will get you beat in an anticipated shootout. So, who’s accountable? Kyle Shanahan, after every loss this season, factors to how the 49ers had been doomed by self-inflicted wounds, and that's partly true this sport. However DeMeco Ryans’ protection didn't present up towards its hardest take a look at but, leaving far an excessive amount of house for receivers and rushers, and never peppering Mahomes sufficient whereas Bosa fought double groups. Subsequent up: An opportunity to rebound towards the Rams, who’ve misplaced their final seven regular-season conferences with the 49ers.