There’s not much to smile about right now if you’re at all affiliated with the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners were tormented by their biggest boogeyman once again on Sunday, as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs came to town and reminded everyone in red and gold that they’re the champs. And the Niners, just about eight months removed from coming within inches of being champs, feel lightyears away from that.
The Chiefs didn’t even play particularly well either. Mahomes was underwhelming overall, but of course a reliable playmaker whenever it really mattered. A depleted platoon of Kansas City skill position players weren’t very special. Yet the Chiefs laughed and slapped hands on the visiting sideline for much of the fourth quarter, cruising to a 28-18 victory that wasn’t as close as the final score even indicated. From start to finish, it was an ugly afternoon at Levi’s Stadium, and things have never looked more bleak for the 2024 49ers.
The misery wasn’t just in the final score and the annoying, frustrating, infuriating way it played out. The 2023-absent injury bug once again reared its ugly head. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season ending torn ACL in the second quarter after making a first down reception. The unfortunate injury puts an abrupt end to what was a long and tumultuous 2024 for Aiyuk and the Niners, the majority of which took place away from the field. Aiyuk’s contentious hold out, lack of on field production, and finally brutal injury encapsulate just how grim things have been for the Niners since they left Las Vegas in February.
Greg Papa kicked things off on this dark Niners Monday with a monologue that begged one simple question: Where are the 49ers? What has happened to this juggernaut in the first seven weeks of a season classified as Super Bowl or bust. Kyle Shanahan described Sunday’s loss as an “Ass-Kicking.” Papa concurred.
Overall, Brock Purdy has been fantastic for the Niners for the vast majority of his young career. Sunday was not a performance to remember for the third year QB. Purdy, to put it nicely, was underwhelming in the loss. He posted the lowest Quarterback rating of his career, threw three picks, and underthrew two deep routes for completions that would have been touchdowns had he put them on the money. He has to be better.
Colin Cowherd touched on the difference between Purdy and Mahomes that was magnified in yesterday’s game.
The national media has long praised the 49ers during their post pandemic Super Bowl contention. The tides are officially shifting as of Monday morning. Cowherd wasn’t the only one. NFL Network’s Good Morning Football crew unloaded on SF. There were questions about the secrecy of Christian McCaffrey’s condition from Kyle Brandt and Peter Schrager. Then, former linebacker Akbar Gbajabiamila put the nail in the coffin.
It’s all bad right now for the 49ers.
