San Francisco hasn’t figured out how to beat the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – For the San Francisco 49ers, the numbers tell a painful story.
In four career starts against 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes is 4-0 – including 2-0 in Super Bowls. What’s more, the Chiefs overcame double-digit deficits in each of their Super Bowl victories over the 49ers this decade.
Granted, the 49ers and their fans aren’t alone in being tormented by Mahomes (the Buffalo Bills and their ardent followers can attest to that). But considering that Mahomes has played an outsize role in denying the 49ers two more Vince Lombardi Trophies to add to their collection of five, well, who could blame them if they were rattled about facing the Chiefs?
On Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, the 49ers get their fifth opportunity to defeat the Chiefs with Mahomes as quarterback. In one of the most anticipated matchups of the regular season, the teams that faced off in Super Bowls LIV and LVIII will meet again on the 49ers’ home field.
Mahomes has had the date circled on his calendar for some time.
“I mean, it’s as big as a regular season game you can play in,” Mahomes told reporters in Kansas City, Missouri. “They’re a great football team. I always like going up against the best, and that’s what we’re going up against this week. … We understand that it’s going to take our best to win, so you just have to have extreme focus.”
In the teams’ last meeting, the Chiefs cemented their place among the greatest teams in NFL history, repeating as Super Bowl champions and winning their third title of the decade with a 25-22 overtime victory at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
On the first possession of overtime, San Francisco kicker Jake Moody hit a 27-yard field goal to give the 49ers a 22-19 lead with 7:22 remaining. Mahomes, who was named Super Bowl MVP for the third time after finishing with 399 all-purpose yards (333 passing, 66 rushing), two touchdowns and an interception, then drove the Chiefs 75 yards, capping the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mecole Hardman for the game-winning score.
As has been the case whenever Mahomes faces the 49ers, the Chiefs finished better.
“The biggest thing is the guys just stepped up and made plays,” said Mahomes, a two-time Associated Press NFL MVP. “It wasn’t one guy, it was everybody. Guys just continued to make plays and did their job. That’s what special football teams do.”
Back in 2020, the Chiefs outscored the 49ers 21-0 in the fourth quarter of a 31-20 victory at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to win their first Super Bowl in 50 years. Mahomes had 286 passing yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions en route to winning his first Super Bowl MVP award.
With five Super Bowl victories, the 49ers trail the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, who each have six. Mahomes has played the lead role in preventing the 49ers from catching the leaders.
He first faced the 49ers in Week 3 of the 2018-19 season. In a 38-27 victory on the Chiefs’ home field, Mahomes had 314 passing yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also delivered a masterful performance in Week 7 of the 2022-23 season for the visiting Chiefs, producing 423 passing yards with three touchdowns and an interception in a 44-23 blowout victory.
Recently, in an attempt to move forward, the 49ers looked backward.
“Everyone understands that we’ve lost two Super Bowls to them. That can give you a little post-traumatic stress when you turn on the tape,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters the other day.
“That’s human nature. You’ve got to make sure you don’t get caught up in that. This game has nothing to do with past games.”
Of course, psychologically, it all adds up, the 49ers acknowledged.
“It’s definitely a little emotional,” 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa said. “We’re just looking at the tape, trying to learn from it.
“A lot of similarities from last year, a few new guys, but really good defense and offense. They obviously have [Mahomes] back there, so [they’re] always dangerous.”
Despite suffering many major losses on offense (top wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice are out for the season, and first-string running back Isiah Pacheco is on injured reserve), the Chiefs (5-0), who are coming off their bye week, are one of only two undefeated teams in the league (the Minnesota Vikings are also 5-0). The 49ers (3-3) are without several key performers as well, including All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, who’s sidelined because of an Achilles injury.
Eager to change the narrative, the 49ers will battle the Chiefs and Mahomes yet again. And they’re hoping that this time, the numbers will finally tell a story they like.
