SANTA CLARA — There are probably at least 100 adjectives you could use to describe the 49ers’ defensive performance during Sunday’s 44-23 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi’s Stadium in Week 7.
And not one of them is positive either.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 25 of 34 pass attempts for 423 passing yards, three touchdowns, and an aerial interception. On the ground, Kansas City rushed for another 112 yards and gained 529 yards offense.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said of the 49ers’ defensive effort, “It’s a shame. We’re better than that.” They made some pretty big plays that looked like they had a lot of space… It was a shame. We are better than that.”
San Francisco’s defense was not only terrible, it was historically terrible.
Kansas City converted on six of their nine third-down attempts, and almost all of them were big plays.
On the third and first pass of the first quarter, Mahomes completed a 27-yard pass to tight end Travis Kels. Mahomes then completed a 15-yard pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster on his receiver’s 3rd and 2nd in the 3rd quarter, and Jerrick on 3rd and 20th in the 3rd quarter finished his 34-yard pass to McKinnon. The screen of completed his path. On 3rd and 11th in the 4th quarter Marquez Valdes he bombed Scantling and finally on 3rd and 6th in the 4th quarter to Smith-Schuster he scored a 45-yard touchdown.
After the game, linebacker Fred Warner explained to reporters what went wrong with the 49ers’ defense.
“It’s just a combination of explosive play, protracted driving and self-harm,” Warner said. “On our side, we really feel we weren’t given a chance to win.”
“Our defense prides itself on eliminating explosive plays. found.”
RELATED: The 49ers’ offense grades the defense’s crushing loss to the Chiefs
The 49ers defense played at the elite level for the first five weeks of the season before losing to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6. The loss was frustrating for San Francisco, but it was clear that the injuries had a tremendous impact and that the loss did not adequately reflect who they were as a defense.
San Francisco was much healthier on Sunday, delivering one of the few 49ers defense bombardments they’ve ever experienced. The 49ers are desperately in need of the right game, and ironically in Week 8 they will face the Los Angeles Rams. Believe it or not, a matchup against the Super Bowl defending champion would be a welcome matchup for this 49ers team. Based on the history between division rivals.
How they react to the Rams after a series of ugly losses is very important.
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