Kansas City safety Jaden Hicks (21) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., on Oct. 20.Jed Jacobsohn/The Associated Press
Patrick Mahomes overcame two interceptions to deliver a few big plays with his feet and Kansas City remained the league’s only undefeated team, beating the San Francisco 49ers 28-18 Sunday in a Super Bowl rematch.
The stakes and the quality of play weren’t at the same level as eight months ago when Mahomes and KC (6-0) beat the 49ers (3-4) 25-22 in overtime for their Super Bowl title in five seasons.
But the result was the same with Kansas City winning its fifth in a row over San Francisco, including two Super Bowls.
The game came with a potentially heavy price for San Francisco with star receiver Brandon Aiyuk getting carted off after getting hit on his right knee while making a catch late in the first half. There was no immediate word on the severity of the injury.
Aiyuk’s absence proved crucial during a key point late in the third quarter when the 49ers were driving with a chance to erase a 14-12 disadvantage.
A miscommunication between backup receiver Ronnie Bell and Brock Purdy led to an interception by Chris Roland-Wallace. KC then turned that into a touchdown thanks in part to a 33-yard scramble by Mahomes that was his longest regular-season run ever.
Mahomes then scored on a one-yard scramble on fourth-and-goal for his first rushing touchdown since the 2022 season.
That was one of four TD runs on the day for Kansas City, with Kareem Hunt getting two in the first half and Mecole Hardman icing it with an 18-yarder in the fourth quarter. It was just the second time Kansas City ran for four TDs in a game started by Mahomes, with the other coming in the 2018 divisional playoff round against Indianapolis.
Mahomes finished 16 for 27 for 154 yards and has eight interceptions and six passing touchdowns this season. But that has been enough for Kansas City to become the 10th defending Super Bowl champion to start the following season with six successive wins.
Purdy wasn’t much better as the defences had the better of this game. He went 17 for 31 for 212 yards with two TD runs and three interceptions. His third pick came in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter with San Francisco trying to mount a comeback.
Niners rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall made his debut exactly 50 days after being shot in the chest during a robbery attempt in San Francisco. Pearsall was activated from the non-football injury list and came in for his first play on San Francisco’s opening drive. He caught his first career pass late in the second quarter.