Chiefs vs. 49ers preview
Two quarterbacks under pressure will meet on Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers at Arrowhead stadium.
Matt Cassel has been underwhelming in Kansas City and the passing game has been a weakness for the Chiefs in 2010. Cassel has passed for just 244 yards in two games this year with one touchdown and two interceptions, leading the Chiefs to the 30th ranked passing
attack in the NFL.
Cassel will need to get going soon if the Chiefs are to maintain their good start. Another bad game on Sunday will also feed the rumbles that the Chiefs should start thinking about unloading Cassel's hefty contract.
The Chiefs shocked the Chargers in the season opener on their way to a surprising 2-0 start. They have found success on the ground with Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles sharing carries in the backfield.
Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers can relate to the pressure that Cassel is feeling. Despite showing progress last season after replacing Shawn Hill as the starter, there are still question marks around Smith's ability. Smith has thrown only one touchdown
to four interceptions this season in the 49ers two losses, a blow-out against the Seahawks and a close loss to the Saints.
Despite their two losses, the Niners will be encouraged by their performance against the Saints, where they played well and were a little unlucky to lose. Despite turning the ball over four times, the 49ers only lost on a last-second field goal by the defending
champion Saints.
This is a game that the 49ers have to win if they want to fulfil expectations of a division title in 2010, and they should. A tough run defence should neutralise the Chiefs only strength, the running game. Matt Cassel hasn't shown an ability to move the ball
through the air so far, and there's no reason to think anything different will happen Sunday.
The Niners can rely on stud running back Frank Gore to get them into good positions and they just have the edge at QB with Alex Smith. Smith showed excellent poise against the Saints to lead his team back from a deficit and tie the game in the last two minutes
of the fourth quarter.
The 49ers have more players that can make plays all over the field. In Vernon Davis, Josh Morgan and Michael Crabtree, they have a receiving corps that is far superior to the Chiefs', which will allow them to disguise their strong run game, a luxury the
Chiefs don't have. The Chiefs have to beat you on the ground, and everyone knows it. Expect to see plenty of Patrick Willis up in the box making tackles against the Chiefs' running back tandem.
Prediction: 49ers 20 Chiefs 16
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