Chiefs @ 49ers
Final Score: Chiefs 19, 49ers 16
Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)
The Chiefs visited the 49ers in an entertaining matchup between two of the powerhouses of the NFL. Both teams rolled out their starters for the first series before we got to see flashes of brilliance from rookies alongside many learning points. The hype remains intact for Trey Lance, who John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan went all-in on by giving up the house to trade up for in the NFL draft. The former North Dakota State quarterback aired out a beautiful deep ball for Trent Sherfield in the second quarter which the former Cardinals wideout took to the house for an 80-yard score. Patrick Mahomes made a brief appearance to whet his whistle in preparation for week 1.
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: 1/2, 4 yards
Chad Henne: 6/9, 37 yards, TD, INT, 1 sack
Anthony Gordon: 11/17, 79 yards | 1 carry, -1 yard
Shane Buechele: 8/11, 76 yards, 3 sacks | 3 carries, 13 yards, TD
A sneak peek of Patrick Mahomes was enough for the fans to get their photos but that was about it as the superstar quarterback played just one drive that ended prematurely because of a juggled drop from Mecole Hardman that could have been intercepted.
Veteran Chad Henne immediately led a touchdown drive on his first series, as the 49ers’ defense completely lost track of wide receiver Byron Pringle in the Red Zone.
First TD of the year, courtesy of Byron Pringle!
📺: #KCvsSF on KSHB pic.twitter.com/HjJOnGzarK
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 15, 2021
Undrafted free-agent Shane Buechele showed some nice things late in the game, driving the Chiefs down the field for a fourth-quarter game-winning touchdown drive. Unlikely to make the team behind one of the most valuable backup QBs in Henne, Buechele is likely a practice squad guy at best.
Shane Buechele puts us back in the lead!
📺: #KCvsSF on KSHB pic.twitter.com/UAtG50GuxX
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 15, 2021
Running Back
Clyde Edwards-Helaire: 4 carries, 16 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards
Jerick McKinnon: 3 carries, 19 yards | 3 targets, 2 reception, 21 yards
Darwin Thompson: 4 carries, 12 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards
Darrel Williams: 2 carries, 6 yards
Derrick Gore: 4 carries, 6 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 2 yards
Elijah McGuire: 1 carry, 3 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 27 yards
Michael Burton: 1 target, 1 reception, 7 yards
After an underwhelming rookie campaign, Cylde Edwards-Helaire is once again slated to head this backfield into the season. The number of offensive weapons Mahomes has makes it difficult to go all-in on CEH. The key to him becoming more explosive in this offense comes in the passing game. We didn’t learn anything new about that in this contest.
Jerick McKinnon is best poised to backup CEH and the former-49ers running back looked dynamic in a few touches here. Darwin Thompson could be on the roster bubble after yet another forgettable showing from the diminutive back.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Tyreek Hill: 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards
Travis Kelce: 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards
Mecole Hardman: 1 target
Byron Pringle: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 10 yards, TD
Daurice Fountain: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 38 yards
Jody Fortson: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 32 yards
Cornell Powell: 3 targets, 2 reception, 20 yards
Marcus Kemp: 3 targets, 2 reception, 10 yards
Darrius Shepherd: 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards
Chad Williams: 2 targets, 1 reception, 3 yards
Dalton Schoen: 2 targets, 1 reception, 3 yards
Maurice Ffrench: 1 target
Noah Gray: 2 targets
There is little of note to remark about this receiving room. Starters Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Mecole Hardman were involved in the opening drive then did not return. Wide receiver Byron Pringle caught the only Chiefs touchdown pass of the game. He could squeeze out Damarcus Robinson as the fourth receiver in the offense after Hardman moved up to take the spot of the departed Sammy Watkins. The remaining games will tell us more about that battle.
Former Colts receiver Daurice Fountain and Cardinals third-round bust Chad Williams were both given a good look at and one of them could make the roster. Fountain is the more complete receiver and looked accomplished on routes on the outside against a dodgy 49ers secondary.
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo: 3/3, 26 yards
Trey Lance: 5/14, 128 yards, TD, Fumble (Lost), 4 sacks
Josh Rosen: 10/15, 93 yards, INT, sack
Kyle Shanahan opted to roll out starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for the opening series. He mainly handed off to Trey Sermon and dumped off a couple of screens to Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. The same old offense here, nothing new. So, let’s get to what you have been waiting for.
Trey Lance announced his arrival in the NFL in style with a deep bomb to camp-buddy Trent Sherfield. It was an exciting moment for sure albeit against the second-string Chiefs defense.
TREY AREAAAA❗️#KCvsSF
📱49ers app
📺 @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/nS8XnlGLQC— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 15, 2021
Prior to this, the warning signs about Lance were all too evident. He struggles to move out of the pocket and this was punished by one of the best defensive linemen in the league, Chris Jones, who sacked him for the first of four sacks on the day for Lance.
Chris Jones welcomes Trey Lance to the NFL 💪 pic.twitter.com/jgRJlKXQGb
— PFF (@PFF) August 15, 2021
Lance also struggled to go through his reads and move the chains. He only completed 4-of-13 passing attempts for 48 yards outside the score, fumbling and taking some bad sacks. One of those passes was very encouraging, however, a nicely thrown ball outside when starting from inside his own endzone.
Slingin' it 💪#KCvsSF
📱49ers app
📺 @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/FYN81bIZaP— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 15, 2021
There were two underthrown balls that should have been intercepted too. We also did not see him carry the ball. Despite the moment of magic, this outing only served to show that Lance has a huge learning curve ahead and this is Jimmy G’s offense to start the year.
Josh Rosen came in during the second half and generally did Josh Rosen-type things. INT alert!
Textbook interception by Armani Watts 🙌
📺: #KCvsSF on KSHB pic.twitter.com/nyPcAR3lEZ
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 15, 2021
Running Back
Trey Sermon: 9 carries, 26 yards, fumble | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 14 yards
JaMycal Hasty: 10 carries, 63 yards, TD, fumble | 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards
Wayne Gallman: 6 carries, 21 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards
Josh Hokit: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 4 yards
With Raheem Mostert held out due to his ailing body, big rookie Trey Sermon handled most of the workload in the first half. His stat line wasn’t anything special but he was given opportunities in favorable situations and ran hard. He did fumble the ball at the end of a tough run but he looks to be a good bet to be productive this year knowing how much Shanahan loves to rotate his backs and scheme them into scoring opportunities.
JaMycal Hasty was everybody’s favorite sleeper pick last year but things never really materialized and he put the ball on the ground again in this one. He recovered late to hit paydirt right up the gut from inside the 5-yard line.
The original ruling on the field was a hasty decision. JaMycal wasn't denied 💪#KCvsSF
📱49ers app
📺 @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/GSlCej37Xj— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 15, 2021
Veteran free-agent Wayne Gallman was used sparingly in what is a deep running back room in San Francisco. The situation is one to watch for fantasy purposes. It’s all a bit undecided behind Mostert.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Brandon Aiyuk: 1 target | 1 carry, 8 yards
Deebo Samuel: 1 target, 1 reception, 13 yards
Trent Sherfield: 1 target, 1 reception, 80 yards, TD
Charlie Woerner: 3 targets, 1 reception, 34 yards
Jauan Jennings: 2 targets, 1 reception, 26 yards | 2 carries, 23 yards
Joshua Perkins: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 24 yards
Nsimba Webster: 2 targets, 1 reception, 18 yards | 1 carry, 34 yards
Jordan Matthews: 2 targets, 1 reception, 16 yards
River Cracraft: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 9 yards
Travis Benjamin: 4 targets
Richie James: 2 targets
The first-team receivers (if you can call them that – they run the ball just as much) Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel saw a few touches in the first half before exiting. Aiyuk was responsible for a bad drop on Lance’s first drive that was ended by the Jones sack. Outside of those two, the big play from Trent Sherfield was the only real highlight worthy of mentioning.
One receiver who did show out was second-year slot receiver, Jauan Jennings. The seventh-round pick from the 2020 draft has a big body but it was interesting to see him used as a battering ram out of the backfield too. Jennings is one to watch as a late-round flier in deeper leagues.
Jauan Jennings can move a bit! Two very effective tunnel screens to move the chains. I expect him to make the roster. #49ers pic.twitter.com/pyMyLnrjpj
— Christian (@ChristianR_Vill) August 15, 2021
— Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)