In the lead-up to Sunday’s Chiefs-49ers matchup, Kansas City players said they hoped to send a message.
In playing the physical 49ers, the Chiefs were hoping they could go strength-to-strength and beat the Niners with a strong running attack and solid defense.
“You can’t be the nail,” Chiefs defensive end Kevin Vickerson told a Kansas City Star reporter. “Going into a matchup where you know they’re coming in with physicality, you’ve got to be the hammer."
But in the end, it was the 49ers with better tools Sunday in a 22-17 victory over the Chiefs at Levi’s Stadium.
San Francisco’s ground game and defense were solid for a second straight week as San Francisco extended its winning streak to two games and its record to 3-2.
Frank Gore rushed for 107 yards and Carlos Hyde added 43 more, while Colin Kaepernick played efficiently, completing 14-of-26 throws for 201 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 18 yards.
The Chiefs went up 7-0 on TD pass from Alex Smith to tight end Travis Kelce, before Phil Dawson made the first of his five field goals in the first quarter to cut the deficit to 7-3.
When Stevie Johnson caught a 9-yard pass from Kaepernick for a touchdown in the second quarter, the 49ers went into halftime up 13-10.
In the second half, the Niners brought out their ball-control offense, controlling the clock and keeping Smith & Co. off the field. In the fourth quarter, San Francisco put together 13- and 14-play drives that resulted in Dawson field goals to secure the victory.
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When Perrish Cox intercepted Smith with about two minutes remaining, the 49ers had the game in the box, running out the clock.
In the duel between Quarterback Past and Quarterback Present, Smith and Kaepernick, both played well. Smith was 17-of-31 for 175 yards and two TDs.
Now back with a winning record, the 49ers will get an extra day of preparation for their next matchup, a Monday night game at St. Louis against the Rams on Oct. 13.
