Chiefs vs. 49ers score, takeaways: Patrick Mahomes airs it out as Kansas City rolls over San Francisco

The 49ers kept it close, but only for so long

The Chiefs handled their business against the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. On Sunday, in the marquee matchup of the Week 7 afternoon slate, rematching San Francisco on West Coast turf, they did it again. Christian McCaffrey made his sharp-looking debut with his new squad, helping Jimmy Garoppolo and Co. take an early advantage. But Patrick Mahomes proved the more sustainable big-play artist in the cross-conference clash, spreading the ball around as Andy Reid's squad rolled to a 44-23 victory.

DeMeco Ryans' defense made noise early in the showdown, with Talanoa Hufanga intercepting Mahomes to help San Francisco go on a 10-0 run out of the gate. The Chiefs scored a combined 30 points in the second half alone, however, with JuJu Smith-Schuster and Travis Kelce serving as reliable outlets for No. 15, and Mecole Hardman scoring three times on red zone trickery. Marquez Valdes-Scantling also went off on several deep shots, torching former Chiefs veteran Charvarius Ward.

Here are some additional takeaways from Sunday's Chiefs win:

Why the Chiefs won

The Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes combo remains the standard. A slightly sloppy start, including an early Mahomes pick in his own territory, did nothing to overshadow their second-half stardom. Everyone -- almost literally -- was on display: Travis Kelce emerged just when he needed to, always finding a way to run wide open on third-and-long; JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling each made downfield work look easy; Mecole Hardman turned on the jets for three scores as a ball-carrier; and even Jerick McKinnon spiced up the backfield with a late catch-and-run. Mahomes simply fed them all, and his line proved sturdy the entire time, neutralizing San Francisco's typically feisty front.

The Chiefs defense wasn't without its moments, too. L'Jarius Sneed played with confidence on the outside, getting to Garoppolo on a blitz and nearly logging a pick as well. And Frank Clark had his best Chiefs performance in recent memory, totaling 1.5 sacks and hitting Garoppolo twice, including on a safety that all but sealed Kansas City's big win.

Why the 49ers lost

They couldn't run the ball the whole game. Early on, San Francisco looked like a seamless contender, moving up and down the field by leaning on the new rushing duo of Christian McCaffrey and Jeff Wilson Jr. As the Chiefs caught up and forced some red zone errors by Jimmy Garoppolo, however, the 49ers' ground game took a backseat to a more erratic aerial attack. Brandon Aiyuk was busy, and George Kittle flashed his Kelce-level athleticism with a nearly 100-yard outing. Even Ray-Ray McCloud got on the highlight reel with a nice TD catch. But all in all, Garoppolo never matched Mahomes in terms of consistent playmaking, throwing an ill-advised red-zone pick into traffic and failing to feel pressure on a safety that basically sealed the game.

It didn't help that DeMeco Ryans' defense had no answers for Mahomes and Co., especially after the half, when K.C. combined for 30 points in the final two quarters. Ex-Chiefs corner Charvarius Ward surrendered a bomb on third-and-long, and his teammates took turns blowing their own coverages after blitzes or front-four pressure failed to get home.

Turning point

Honestly, it probably came on Garoppolo's lone pick of the day. Down 14-13 to the Chiefs late in the second quarter, the 49ers were knocking at the door after recovering a muffed punt by rookie Skyy Moore. On third-and-3 from the K.C. 5-yard line, however, Jimmy G faced pressure from George Karlaftis and lofted one up in the direction of George Kittle, only for Chiefs rookie Joshua Williams to snag the ball out of the air and erase San Francisco's shot at points. You simply can't end drives that way and expect to beat the Chiefs.

Play of the game

We had three Hardman TDs to pick from, and his second came on a play in which most players would have no business scoring. Taking a simple motion handoff from left to right, the receiver took his time following blocks before bursting down the sideline to give Kansas City its first lead of the day.

What's next

The Chiefs (5-2) will rest up on their bye week before returning for a prime-time Nov. 6 "Sunday Night Football" showdown with the Titans (4-2), who beat the Colts but may or may not be without Ryan Tannehill moving forward due to injury. The 49ers (3-4), meanwhile, will hit the road in Week 8 for a matchup with the rival Rams (3-3), who fell to San Francisco earlier this month.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 7:12 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Ball. Game. Another third-and-long, another wide-open shot from Patrick Mahomes, this time to JuJu Smith-Schuster, who sits in the middle of the field after the Chiefs front picks up San Francisco's blitz. He goes in basically untouched the rest of the way, taking it 45 yards for the score to give Kansas City a 44-23 advantage. DeMeco Ryans just didn't have the answers on those third-and-longs in several spots. JuJu quietly up to seven catches for 124 yards and a score.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 7:05 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Probably safe to wrap this one. Frank Clark comes flying off the edge, beating Trent Williams and then smothering Jimmy Garoppolo in the end zone for the safety. The 49ers are fortunate Jimmy G didn't cough the ball up, too. Instead, it's another two points for the visitors, and now Patrick Mahomes will get the ball again. One of the best plays from Clark on this team in a while.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 6:59 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

What a finish to an important drive for the Chiefs. The 49ers had them right where they wanted them, pinned back at third-and-11, but Patrick Mahomes unloads a deep ball to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who torches former Chiefs starter Charvarius Ward for 55+ and sets up a red-zone drive to pad the score. JuJu Smith-Schuster with another tough couple of yards after the catch, and then Mecole Hardman gets his third TD of the day on the reverse hand-off. It's a 35-23 game, and that almost feels like a wrap. Still 10:43 to play, but once Kansas City gets a big edge, it's a tough game of catch-up.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 6:51 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

The 49ers finally strike in the red zone once again. It looked ugly for a bit: Jimmy Garoppolo is nearly picked by L'Jarius Sneed while forcing one toward the end zone, and then Jeff Wilson Jr. just barely misses a dump-off pass that would've been an easy score. But then San Francisco's version of Travis Kelce steps up: George Kittle comes across the middle and outmuscles his man for a big-boy TD to pull the Niners within five. Kittle's now up to six catches for 98 yards and a score.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 6:41 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Travis Kelce may remain the safety valve (and best big-play threat) for the Chiefs, but boy is Kansas City proving it can involve just about everyone if it wants to. Eight different players now have a catch, and both Jerick McKinnon and Justin Watson now have crucial touches working as situational pieces. Not a ton of work for Isiah Pacheco in his first official start in the backfield, but Mecole Hardman's basically been used as a runner against the 49ers, too. It's now 28-16 after Watson's TD catch, and suddenly the pressure is on Jimmy Garoppolo to put this game on his back. Time to start utilizing Christian McCaffrey out wide?

[Oct 23, 2022 at 6:26 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

As the broadcast notes, the Chiefs' offensive line has been an unsung hero today, allowing just a 9% pressure rate from the vaunted 49ers front. Helped pave the way for Clyde Edwards-Helaire's TD run to put K.C. up 21-13. San Francisco's field goal has since cut it to a five-point difference, but the point is, if Andy Reid's team is winning up front, it's a good bet to get the "W."

[Oct 23, 2022 at 6:02 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Not an abundance of red-zone magic from either side today. 49ers had to settle for three on their opening drive, and then Jimmy Garoppolo threw an absent-minded lob into traffic while under duress to erase potential points late in the half. The Chiefs, meanwhile, punched it in with a couple of nice Mecole Hardman designs but also suffered a few self-inflicted wounds. Penalties threatened to take away one of their first two TDs, and then another infraction took a JuJu Smith-Schuster scoring catch off the board, forcing Harrison Butker to try a 39-yard field goal at the close of the half. With Butker's kick sailing wide right, we've still got ourselves a virtual tie going into the second half: 14-13, Chiefs, and it's anyone's game.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 5:44 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Oh my. Moments after Skyy Moore's fumbled punt return gives the 49ers a free chance at retaking the lead, Jimmy Garoppolo lofts one to the end zone, attempting a short air ball to Ray-Ray McCloud in traffic, and rookie Joshua Williams goes up to snag the ball right out of the air. Both sides now have interceptions. Chiefs preserve their 14-13 lead.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 5:41 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Ugly attempt at a punt return from rookie Skyy Moore there, fielding the ball with outstretched hands even as it was about to bounce at his feet, and the ensuing fumble gives San Francisco new life deep into Chiefs territory. That's the second play involving Moore that's ended badly for K.C. today, as Mahomes' lone pick of the afternoon came while throwing across the field to the first-year wideout.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 5:25 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Mecole Hardman is an early candidate for the Chiefs' offensive MVP today. Gets the jet sweep on a first down from the 49ers' 25 and takes it all the way to the end zone, sprinting past and around defenders, including Talanoa Hufanga, for his second score of the day. Pure speed on the edge there. It's now 14-13, Kansas City. The offense hasn't been in a steady rhythm yet, but as is often the case with the Chiefs, all it takes is a big play here or there.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 5:18 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Big name to watch on the injury front in San Francisco: safety Talanoa Hufanga, who was shaken up on a hard hit and taken to the medical tent. He's been one of the most opportunistic members of DeMeco Ryans' stingy defense. Had the pick on Mahomes during the Chiefs' first drive of the day. Entered the game with two picks and five pass deflections.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 5:10 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

The earliest of early returns on Christian McCaffrey are promising: he's got 44 yards on four touches, now with his first 49ers catch in the books. A poorly thrown screen to Brandon Aiyuk backs San Francisco up once it sniffs the red zone, however, and then Chris Jones leads the sack party around Jimmy G on third down to thwart the drive. Robbie Gould connects from 50 yards out to ensure the 49ers still end the series with points, and we've got a 13-7 ballgame with 12 minutes left in the half.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 4:56 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

When in doubt, turn to Travis Kelce. That's been the M.O. for the Chiefs for a while, but especially this year. Mahomes hits him on a pair of throws to kickstart the Chiefs' second offensive series of the day, and reach 49ers territory. No. 15 then uses his mobility to extend a play and find Mecole Hardman downfield, inside San Francisco's 20. And Hardman seals the drive with one of the Chiefs' signature Shotgun-pitch TD runs, credited to Mahomes as a pass, to pull the visitors within three. Two 49ers penalties on that drive help the cause.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 4:42 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Killer throw and catch from Jimmy Garoppolo to Deebo Samuel pushes the 49ers into the red zone after the Hufanga pick. Samuel went way up to outmuscle his man for the 22-yard catch. And then Ray-Ray McCloud makes an incredible adjustment in the end zone to haul in a short pass from Jimmy G for the score. Great job by Garoppolo getting the ball off under pressure, and all of a sudden we've got a 10-0 lead for the home underdogs against Kansas City.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 4:39 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

There's that 49ers defense! Tashuan Gipson dives in front of an ill-advised throw from Patrick Mahomes to an in-breaking Skyy Moore, and the ball gets tipped right into the hands of Talanoa Hufanga. So San Francisco gets great field position, in Chiefs territory, with a chance to go up two scores early.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 4:35 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

The 49ers start hot offensively, with Christian McCaffrey showing juice on a couple early hand-offs, but they settle for three once they reach the red zone, with Jimmy Garoppolo just barely failing to connect on some short darts. Good coverage from Kansas City. Not sure you can beat the Chiefs taking three points, especially on fourth-and-shorts, but a promising opening for the restocked San Francisco ground game.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 4:27 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

We're underway. Let's see what all this Christian McCaffrey hype is about in San Francisco!

[Oct 23, 2022 at 4:09 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Big upset in the NFC today should have the 49ers more enticed at the chance for a victory today: if San Francisco wins to improve to 4-3, not only will it remain atop the West, but with the Buccaneers (3-4) falling to the Panthers (2-5), it'll be better positioned for a favorable seeding in the postseason. Obviously a lot can happen between now and then, but every win matters, and the Bucs, who entered the season as potential favorites in the conference, look deeply troubled.

[Oct 23, 2022 at 3:16 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

The inactives are official:

Chiefs: RB Ronald Jones, QB Shane Buechele, S Nazeeh Johnson. CB Rashad Fenton, DE Mike Danna, DE Joshua Kaindoh, T Darian Kinnard

49ers: TE Tyler Kroft, DL Arik Armstead, OL Nick Zakelj, DL Kemoko Turay, RB Jordan Mason, CB Dontae Johnson

Mason sitting this one out for San Francisco is added confirmation that Christian McCaffrey is good to go. He would've normally been an insurance option at RB behind Jeff Wilson Jr. Also of note: Nick Bosa is active after missing Week 6 with a groin injury.