Grading KC Chiefs in Super Bowl rematch vs. 49ers (they didn’t need OT this time)

The Super Bowl rematch goes to the Chiefs. Kansas City leaned on its stellar defense and running game to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 28-18 in the teams’ first meeting since the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII. KC didn’t need overtime as they did in Las Vegas in February.

Next: The Chiefs stay on the road and take on the Las Vegas Raiders. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on CBS.

KC STAR OF THE GAME

Mecole Hardman loves playing against the 49ers. The game-winning touchdown reception in the Super Bowl and the only three-touchdown game of his career came against San Francisco. From Sunday’s game add a 55-yard punt return, which help set up the Chiefs’ second touchdown, and an 18-yard touchdown run to seal the game.

Passing offense: D

Patrick Mahomes got unlucky on the first-quarter interception as Niners 310-pound tackle Kalia Davis tipped the pass to himself. But it marked Mahomes’ seventh straight game with a pick. dating back to the Super Bowl and matching a career long streak. His second interception, in the third quarter, happened when Xavier Worthy slipped. A bad quarterback rating game for Mahomes — 44.4 for the lowest of his career — but he logged another winning performance.

Rushing offense: A

Ah, but here’s where Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs excelled. The running game has become increasingly important with the thinning wide receiver group. Kareem Hunt and the offensive line has delivered. Hunt followed Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith and Joe Thuney into the end zone twice in the first half, with Travis Kelce also delivering key blocks.

The best run of the game belonged to Mahomes, a 33-yard scamper that was boosted by two pump fakes. The run to the 4 set up the Chiefs’ third touchdown — a Mahomes’ fourth-down keeper from the 1, with Mahomes in shotgun, that ended when he trucked Malik Mustapha at the goal line. It’s the closest the Chiefs will come to a quarterback keeper with Mahomes.

Two touchdown runs for Kareem Hunt, with 78 yards on 22 attempts, plus touchdown runs for Hardman and Mahomes added to the 186 rushing yards by the team.

Passing defense: A

Chris Roland-Wallace, a undrafted free agent who had played all of his snaps on special teams except one, stopped a 49ers drive with a third-quarter interception. Meanwhile, All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, looks for his first career pick.

Jaden Hicks, a drafted rookie, also got his first. George Karlaftis pressured Niners quarterback Brock Purdy, and forced a bad throw to the end zone that Hicks grabbed.

The Chiefs aren’t the only team with issues at wide receiver. The 49ers were down Jauan Jennings, who didn’t play, Deebo Samuel, who left the game early with an illness, and Brandon Aiyuk with an injury. Former Chief Chris Conley was the best remaining option.

A Justin Reid interception and a Karlaftis sack were among the big plays early. Add it up, three picks for a defense that entered the game with two on the season.

Rushing defense: B

Felix Anudike-Uzomah got his first start of the season and on the game’s first play helped the Chiefs continue their knack of limiting the opponent’s top running back. With Christian McCaffrey out, that was Jordan Mason. He finished with 58 rushing yards as the 49ers running game picked up steam in the second half..

Special teams: B

The first kicking game fake of the season blew up in the Chiefs’ face. A snap Hicks, the up back, went for 1 yard. The Chiefs needed 2. This after the Chiefs defense had held the 49ers to a three-and-out on their first drive. But the defense got Hicks off the hook with Justin Reid’s interception on the next snap.

But the Hardman punt return was an early pivot play, and punter Matt Araiza boomed three kicks for a 59.7-yard average.

The Chiefs sent their onsides kick receiving team on the field in the final minute, but the ball didn’t travel 10 yards.