Week 7 of the NFL season is here, and this week offers an exciting Super Bowl rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. While it doesn’t carry the same stakes as their championship clash, this game promises to be a compelling showdown between two perennial contenders. Both teams are also currently dealing with significant injuries, which could shape the outcome in surprising ways.
The Chiefs come into this game off their bye week and are undefeated at 5-0, while the 49ers have stumbled to a 3-3 record. Key players from both sides, including Rashee Rice, Isiah Pacheco, Charles Omenihu, Marquise “Hollywood’ Brown for Kansas City, and Christian McCaffrey, Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw, and Javon Hargrave for San Francisco, will be sidelined. Here are three key stats to watch in this Week 7 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs visiting the San Francisco 49ers.
Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Blitz vs. Brock Purdy
Brock Purdy, although not playing at his MVP level from last season, has still shown stretches of excellent play. He currently ranks second in the NFL with his 1,629 passing yards. However, one area where Purdy has struggled is under pressure, particularly when facing the blitz. His passer rating drops significantly when blitzed, making this an important aspect to watch, especially given the Chiefs’ aggressive defensive tendencies.
The Kansas City Chiefs also enter this week with the second-highest blitz rate in the NFL, applying pressure on 34.2 percent of opposing quarterbacks’ dropbacks. In past matchups, Purdy has had difficulty dealing with heavy blitz packages, notably in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. He was blitzed on more than 50% of his dropbacks in that game, and his completion rate dropped from 77.8% to 70.6% under pressure.
However, Purdy’s performance in their Super Bowl matchup with Kansas City painted a different picture. Despite being blitzed on 46.3% of his dropbacks, Purdy posted a 106.5 QB rating, threw a touchdown, and avoided turnovers. How Purdy handles the Chiefs’ blitz this Sunday will likely determine if the 49ers can hand Kansas City their first loss of the season.
Kansas City Chiefs’ Run Defense vs. 49ers’ Rushing Attack
Even without star running back Christian McCaffrey, the San Francisco 49ers’ rushing attack remains formidable. They currently rank first in total rushing yards and third in the league for rushing yards per game, thanks to Kyle Shanahan’s creative schemes. San Francisco’s success on the ground helps set up their play-action passing game, making the success of their rushing attack essential to the success of their offense as a whole.
However, the 49ers will face one of their toughest tests this season against the Kansas City Chiefs’ stout run defense. Kansas City has allowed an average of just 3.7 yards per carry over the past five games, effectively shutting down dynamic runners like Bijan Robinson, Alvin Kamara, and J.K. Dobbins. In Week 1, they also practically shut down Derrick Henry, who is currently the league’s rushing leader, to only 46 yards on the ground.
If the Chiefs can continue their dominance against the run, it will put added pressure on Brock Purdy to perform his arm through the air. Without a consistent ground game, San Francisco may struggle to keep Kansas City’s defense off-balance. Purdy could face more dropbacks, making him vulnerable to the Kansas City Chiefs’ pass rush, led by Chris Jones. For the 49ers to find a way to come out with a win this week, they’ll need to find creative ways to keep their ground game going.
Travis Kelce vs. Fred Warner in Coverage
Travis Kelce has been on fire recently, reclaiming his role as Patrick Mahomes’ primary target. Over the past two games, Kelce has hauled in 16 receptions and averaged 79.5 receiving yards per game. With key receivers like Rashee Rice and Marquise “Hollywood,” Brown sidelined, the Kansas City Chiefs’ passing game will rely even more on their star veteran tight end.
However, the San Francisco 49ers have one of the best counters to Kelce in All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. Warner is renowned for his coverage skills, allowing just a 72.7 passer rating when targeted this season. He also leads his team with two interceptions, making him a vital part of San Francisco’s defense, particularly when tasked with limiting elite pass-catchers like Kelce.
That said, in Kelce’s last performance against San Francisco in their Super Bowl matchup, he caught nine passes for 93 yards for the Kansas City Chiefs. Although that was a must-win scenario, the 49ers will likely focus more attention on containing Kelce, especially with Rice, Brown, and Isiah Pacheco all out. The battle between Kelce and Warner could be a game-changer in determining the Chiefs’ offensive success.
Final Thoughts on the Kansas City Chiefs
This Week 7 matchup between the Chiefs and 49ers will hinge on which team can better execute down the stretch despite key injuries. Both squads are missing key players, and how they adapt will play a significant role in the game’s outcome. Kansas City will lean on their blitz-heavy defense and top-tier run-stopping unit, while San Francisco must find ways to protect Purdy and establish a consistent ground game.
The chess match between head coach Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan is another layer of intrigue to pay attention to in this game. Especially with Reid who is known for his success coming off a bye week, holding an impressive 21-4 record in such situations. This extra time for preparation could give the Kansas City Chiefs a significant edge, especially with Mahomes leading the charge vs. the San Francisco 49ers.
Ultimately, while both teams are banged up, the Chiefs’ ability to apply pressure on Purdy, control the 49ers’ rushing attack, and make the most of their offensive opportunities will be their keys to remaining undefeated. While this may not have the stakes of a Super Bowl, fans can expect a hard-fought contest between two of the NFL’s best teams, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
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