Chiefs at 49ers: OPEN THREAD

Laddie Morse

There’s one major difference between the two teams playing today in Levi’s Stadium later this afternoon. One wants to prove they belong… and the other team wants to prove they belong with the other team. The Kansas City Chiefs are attempting to show the world that they can three-peat and beting the 49ers today will go a long ways towards that end. While, the San Francisco 49ers are trying to show that their most recent Super Bowl loss was a mistake and that they are the true Super Bowl champs.

The problem for the 49ers is… even if they beat the Chiefs badly today, it will in no way show the world that they are the true Super Bowl Champs.

In any event, this game appears to mean more to the 49ers than it does to K.C.. Here’s Emmanuel Acho’s take (1:06):

Not a Super Bowl Re-match

It may look bad for the 49er if the Chiefs were to win this one… especially since it is on the 49ers home turf. To quote Brian Baldinger:

“It’s not a re-match. It’s not a Super

Bowl, but it’s gonna be fun.”

(0:41)

Who the 49ers Are

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the best teams in the NFC. Period. Any kind of dodging that reality is silliness. They have an excellent Head Coach and play caller (and play designer) in Kyle Shanahan. They have an excellent GM in John Lynch. Their 7th rounder from 2022 (#262) Mr. Irrelevant QB Brock Purdy, has not only become one of the top ten QBs in the league, but he has allowed the team to sign other significant players to huge contracts over the past three seasons. Their main RB, Christian McCaffrey, was voted the third best player by all his peers in 2023 (3:28):

McCaffrey may be out for the year, but will assuredly will miss this game, is perhaps the best RB in the league. Their backup RB, Jordan Mason was hurt a week ago in their game vs. the Seahawks, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens with him.

What is a bit surprising to me is that backup RB Jordan Mason, who out of Georgia Tech as a UDFA in 2022, has averaged more than 100 yards per game this season for the 49ers. Also, Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo says that the 49ers young QB, Brock Purdy, needs to be respected (3:26):

There are many more players who I should mention on the 49ers roster… players who have become some of the best in the league. Guys like TE George Kittle, or WRs Deebo Samuel Sr. and Brandon Aiyuk. Then there’s players like DE Nick Bosa and middle linebacker Fred Warner.

Injury Reports

Although Mike Danna is out for this game, filling in should be Felix Anudike-Uzomah. FAU is in his second season and there’s hope that this could be his breakout game. Danna is very good at setting the edge vs the run, so that’s something to keep an eye on for FAU.

San Francisco will be down to their third kicker for this game. Anders Carlson will do the duties for the 49ers:

Anders Carlson – Green Bay roster

Weather

The weather report shows that it will be warm to start the game but should be reasonable by the end of the contest.

Adapted from Weather.com

SBNation 49ers

Patrick Holloway of SBNation for the San Francisco 49ers, ninersnation.com, says:

“Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice…”

Holloway predicts the final score will be:

Chiefs 31, 49ers 24.

The rest of their writers predict that the 49ers will win. Except for:

Rohan Chakravarthi: Chiefs 23, 49ers 20.