NFL Week 7 live updates: Patriots-Jaguars from Wembley, Haason Reddick holdout ends, league schedule, predictions, odds
By Nate Taylor, Matt Barrows and Cale Clinton
The rematch of Super Bowl LVIII ended the same as it did in February, with the Kansas City Chiefs (6-0) securing a commanding 28-18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers (3-4). Following an earlier loss by the Minnesota Vikings, the Chiefs are the last undefeated team in the NFL. It marks the third-largest undefeated streak for Kansas City since at least 2000 and the longest of the Patrick Mahomes-Andy Reid era.
The win exemplified Kansas City’s continued ability to find new ways to win. Mahomes finished the afternoon 16-for-27 with 154 passing yards and two interceptions. That is the third-fewest yards Mahomes has ever thrown for in his career and the third time in his career Mahomes finished a game with zero passing touchdowns and two interceptions. However, Kansas City was able to capitalize on the ground game. Mahomes’ 33-yard run is the longest of his career, and a rushing touchdown helped cap off the Chiefs’ victory. Mahomes now moves to 9-8 in games where he throws two interceptions.
MAHOMES TO THE HOUSE 🏠 pic.twitter.com/NMbeTudyyu
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 20, 2024
In total, Kansas City rushed for four touchdowns, the most for the franchise since the 2019 season opener.
Most of this victory came from the efforts of Kansas City’s defense. Three different Chiefs defenders hauled in interceptions, the first three-interception game for Kansas City since Week 4 of 2020. The Chiefs held 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to 17-of-31 passing for 212 yards and three picks, the third-lowest completion percentage of his career. The 49ers’ 101 rushing yards on 24 attempts their fewest of the 2024 season.
A short-manned San Francisco team was made even thinner during this game. Already without Christian McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings with injury, wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel were ruled out after the first half of this game. Aiyuk was carted off to the locker room with a knee injury during the second quarter, while Samuel exited the game with an illness and returned to the sideline in street clothes. As a result, the 49ers relied mostly on their running backs and George Kittle. Kittle’s six receptions for 92 yards led all 49ers receivers, while Jordan Mason’s 58 yards on 14 carries are the most rushing yards the Kansas City Chiefs have allowed to a running back this season.
Frustrations clearly began to boil over for San Francisco as they lost their fifth game to the Chiefs (including playoffs) since 2018. After a Mecole Hardman touchdown put the Chiefs up 28-12 with just over three minutes remaining, 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir got into a scuffle with Chiefs offensive lineman Wanya Morris. After the ensuing kickoff, 49ers tackle Trent Williams was ejected for throwing a punch at a Chiefs safety Bryan Cook.
Chiefs defense shines in San Fran
A large reason the Chiefs remain undefeated after Sunday’s game was their ability to pressure, hit and intercept Brock Purdy, who committed three giveaways. Similar to Super Bowl LVIII, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo blitzed Purdy as often as he could. The results were positive for the Chiefs, too. Each of Purdy’s three interceptions occurred in the Chiefs’ territory. The 49ers played most of the game without McCaffrey, Aiyuk, Samuel and Jennings, so Spagnuolo was able to have his secondary play man coverage throughout, forcing Purdy to throw the ball into tight windows. Defensive end George Karlaftis either hit or was in Purdy’s face prior to two of his interceptions.
Safety Justin Reid made the first pick in the first quarter. Undrafted rookie cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace has played a handful of snaps this season. But midway in the third quarter, Roland-Wallace was on the field following a lower body injury to starting cornerback Jaylen Watson. With the 49ers in the Chiefs’ territory and looking to regain the lead, Roland-Wallace was in the proper spot in man coverage to record his first-career interception, the result of another blitz from defensive coordinator Steve Spagnolo that generated pressure on Purdy.
The third interception sealed the Chiefs’ victory. With the 49ers in the red zone, Spagnuolo dropped eight defenders into coverage, but Karlaftis used a spin move to pressure and hit Purdy as he threw the ball. Rookie safety Jaden Hicks was on the field because Reid took himself off the field with what appeared to be a wrist injury. Hicks intercepted Purdy in the end zone. — Nate Taylor, Chiefs beat writer
WR depth a problem for 49ers
The 49ers played the second half without their top three wideouts and it showed. San Francisco was driving for a go-ahead score late in the third quarter when Purdy and backup receiver Ronnie Bell weren’t on the same page and Purdy’s throw to the sideline was easily intercepted by Chris Roland-Wallace. Purdy’s top targets in the second half were Kittle and Ricky Pearsall, each of whom got three targets. Kittle caught all three passes while Pearsall caught two. Purdy finished 17 of 31 for 212 yards with three interceptions and a season-low 36.7 passer rating. His previous low this season was 62.1 in a Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. — Matt Barrows, 49ers beat writer
Preparation falls short
The 49ers had 10 days to prepare for the Chiefs, but they seemed discombobulated at the start of the game. Purdy couldn’t get the passing game going and finished the first quarter with a 0.00 passer rating. Big plays were either wiped out by penalties or done in by a drop (Aiyuk). The defense, meanwhile, appeared to have trouble reacting to Kansas City’s personnel groups. That unit was late making substitutions throughout the game and at one point was flagged for having too many men on the field.
Finally, the special teams, which had been San Francisco’s most reliably mistake-riddled unit, came up big by stopping a fake punt in the first quarter. But the unit gave up a 55-yard punt return in the second quarter that helped set up the Chiefs’ second touchdown. Anders Carlson, the 49ers’ third kicker in as many games, struck a 55-yard field goal, the longest of his career, in the first quarter. But he missed an extra point in the third. — Barrows
Required reading
- Chiefs are undefeated, but red zone failures are holding back the offense
- Inside the rise of Leo Chenal, the Chiefs’ most underrated defensive player
- The 49ers’ most prominent improvement since the Super Bowl? Rookie guard Dominick Puni
- Ricky Pearsall’s emotional return to the 49ers included a refreshing dose of levity
(Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
