Kansas City Chiefs beat struggling San Francisco 49ers
The Kansas City Chiefs continue to be the surprise team of the NFL as they followed their strong running game to a third straight victory with another impressive 31-10 win over the struggling 0-3 San Francisco
49ers.
Though it was Matt Cassel who threw for three touchdowns to get the points, it was the Chiefs running game which once again propelled their offense forward and led the team to victory. The one-two punch
of Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles once again ran hard at the opposition and combined for 95-yards, and 97-yards respectively, on the ground.
With Thomas Jones taking the lion's share of the carries the door has been opened for Jamaal Charles who leads all rushers with an average of seven yards per carry (this applies to running backs who have
carried the ball 10 times or more so far this season).
After a scoreless first quarter, the Kansas City Chiefs took the lead on a 31-yard pass from Matt Cassel to receiver Dexter McCluster.
Cassel was efficient at quarterback for the Chiefs turning the ball over only once and proving that he is a top calibre starting quarterback in the NFL.
This was highlighted in the third quarter with the Chiefs already up 10-3 when Cassel floated a perfectly weighted throw to receiver Dwayne Bowe for a spectacular 45-yard scoring play.
Trailing for most of the game the 49ers were forced to find offence through the air, as running back Frank Gore was held to just 43-yards on the ground, and had just 15 carries. Gore, however, was still
the most effective offensive threat for the 49ers coming out of the backfield and having nine catches for just over 100 yards.
Aside from a 51-yard Joe Nedney field goal in the first half, the only points which the 49ers managed to put up on the board was a late touchdown pass from quarterback Alex Smith to receiver Josh Morgan.
The touchdown came with a mere three seconds to play, much too late to turn the game around as the 49ers managed only 11 first downs.
Mike Singletary is now going to have to go back to the drawing board and retool his approach as his 49ers are off to an 0-3 start and now sit at the bottom of the NFC West and are one of only four other
teams without a win so far this season. They will try and bounce back against the 2-1 Atlanta Falcons next week.
The Chiefs, on the other hand, continue to surprise everybody by firmly holding on to top spot in the perennially San Diego Charger-dominated AFC West division, and will be, after this week's Monday-nighter,
one of only three teams in the NFL with a perfect record. They also have the benefit of a bye next week to prepare for a tough matchup against last year's AFC champions, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.
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