In the fourth quarter of Sunday's action at Levi's Stadium, the San Francisco 49ers got within five points of the Kansas City Chiefs. Then Patrick Mahomes and the explosive Chiefs offense did Chiefs things, pulling away and routing the stunned home team by a score of 44-23.
For the second week in a row, it was an uncharacteristic performance by the 49ers defense. The unit entered the game ranked No. 1 in total yards allowed. However, that will probably change this week after giving up 529 total yards to the Chiefs. The 44 points surrendered were the most by the 49ers in a home game since October 11, 2009.
The #49ers gave up their most points in a home game since a 45-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park on Oct. 11, 2009.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) October 23, 2022
It was not a good outing for the 49ers defense, which could not find an answer against one of the best offenses in the league.
"Yeah, it's disappointing," head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. "I think we're better than that. They had some pretty big plays where it seemed like there was a lot of space. I've got to look at the film to see what happened, but yeah, that was disappointing. I believe we're better than that."
The Chiefs offense averaged 9.1 yards per play on Sunday. That's the second-most allowed by any defense this season and the most allowed by the 49ers since 1965.
#49ers allowed 9.1 yards per play to the #Chiefs today.
That's the second-most allowed by any defense to any team this season and the most allowed by the Niners in a game since 1965, per @ESPNStatsInfo research.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) October 24, 2022
"We knew everybody had to do their job," linebacker Fred Warner said. "Our defense prides itself on eliminating explosive plays, and that's what the game felt like—just explosive plays, one after another, just keeping drives going, and finding a way to get in the end zone."
Tight end George Kittle was shocked to see the Chiefs move down the field at will against the talented 49ers defensive unit.
"Uncharacteristically of our defense, we gave up a 3rd-and-20 on a screen, and then a 3rd-and-11 for basically a touchdown," a dumbfounded Kittle told reporters. "Was it [Chiefs wide receiver] JuJu [Smith-Schuster] who scored at the end of the game, like wide open in the middle of the field?"
Kittle isn't placing all the blame on his defensive teammate's shoulders. While this was the third time the Chiefs have scored over 40 points this season, the 49ers offense has managed over 30 just once, in an October 9 win over the Carolina Panthers. So there is enough blame to spread around.
"We've got to watch the tape. It's definitely nobody's fault," Kittle said. "Our offense has to put up points, especially when you're going against an offense that's going to put up 28 to 35 a game, no matter what. We've got to help our defense out. I think all three phases, everyone kind of did something today that completely screwed ourselves."
Kittle added, "We can't rely on our defense to hold guys to 10 points week in and week out, no matter how good they are. I think [Kansas City] had a really good game plan too, which was basically don't let [defensive end Nick] Bosa or Fred win the game. Don't let them get their hands on the ball carriers. Don't let them get sacks. Don't let them get picks. I think they ran that pretty well, and you've just got to have other guys step up when that's another team's game plan."
The lopsided loss hasn't shaken Warner's confidence. He believes the 49ers can turn things around. There is just too much talent for things to continue spiraling downward. They just need to come together and limit the frustrating mistakes.
"I'm as optimistic as they come," Warner shared. "I'm not worried about that. Yeah, adding [running back Christian] McCaffrey was a big pickup for us, but at the end of the day, this is the truest team sport that there is. It doesn't matter how much talent you've got throughout the roster.
"And I hate even talking about talent because, at the end of the day, it all comes down to execution, playing with high effort, high physicality, and just doing your job. If all 11 are doing that, defense, offense, and special teams, then obviously we'll start to win games again."
Jimmy Garoppolo
Reporters asked Shanahan about his quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo. What is the coach's assessment of his veteran signal-caller's play?
"I thought he came out pretty good," Shanahan said. "I thought he struggled at times. Just a few plays that he'd love to take back, especially that interception there at the end of the second quarter. The safety there at the end. But it wasn't him more than anyone else. We all had our moments."
After throwing just one interception through his first four games, Garoppolo has thrown three picks in two weeks. The Chiefs defense also sacked him five times.
Garoppolo finished the game 25-of-37 for 303 yards and two touchdowns. His interception was costly, coming late in the first half while on the cusp of scoring, eliminating the possibility of opening the second half with the lead. That toss to Chiefs rookie cornerback Joshua Williams was a bit of a face-palm moment. Garoppolo had options to prevent the turnover. Shanahan was asked if he would have preferred that his quarterback take the sack or throw it away in that scenario.
"Yes, either," Shanahan responded. "They got us in a zero blitz, and you can get rid of the ball or take the sack."