49ers vs. Chiefs: Lopsided Week 7 loss leads to ugly game grades

49ers defensive grades vs. Chiefs

Perhaps it’s time we remove the label of San Francisco’s defense being “elite.”

Two weeks in a row, coordinator DeMeco Ryans’ side of the ball had been completely outclassed by its opponent, first the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6 and now the Chiefs in lopsided fashion.

Granted, Kansas City entered the game with the league’s No. 1-ranked scoring offense, yet the 49ers still boasted the NFL’s best scoring defense.

One side emerged as the unquestioned winner, leaving the other in shambles.

Defensive line

EDGE Nick Bosa returned, yes, but it wasn’t the vaunted Niners pass rush that was the storyline of the game.

Sure, Bosa sacked Patrick Mahomes once in what was essentially fourth-quarter garbage time. Aside from that, San Francisco failed to bring much pressure at all, and Mahomes was only hit three times.

Even beyond that X-factor was just how well Kansas City took advantage of the 49ers’ defensive line’s aggressiveness, forcing players like Bosa to over-commit instead of staying patient.

The result was the whopping 529 yards of offense the Niners allowed.

Grade: F

Linebacker

San Francisco lost linebacker Dre Greenlaw to a calf injury late in the game, and Kansas City subsequently attacked his replacement, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles with great effect.

However, even All-Pro Fred Warner lacked the needed playmaking prowess to make a positive impact, and he was completely out of position on the long 45-yard touchdown to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster:

Uncharacteristic of Warner? Absolutely. But plays like that occurred throughout the game.

The linebackers, typically responsible for stopping run plays beyond the line of scrimmage, allowed the Chiefs to run for 112 yards while averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

Grade: F

Secondary

It’s not uncommon for Mahomes to completely expose another team’s secondary. And despite the 49ers getting back injured players in defensive backs Charvarius Ward, Jimmie Ward and Talanoa Hufanga, there wasn’t much of a difference that’d suggest an impact performance from the third level of defense.

True, Hufanga hauled in a deflected pass off the hand of Mahomes that went for an interception, and the Niners turned that into a touchdown.

But that was about the only highlight, as Mahomes abused both Wards to the tune of 417 net passing yards.

Ugly.

Grade: F