49ers abysmal in loss to Chiefs: Rapid reactions

Break out your thesaurus because we'll need plenty of words to describe the sloppy San Francisco 49ers. Yes, this is still the best roster in football. But the way they've been playing has been poor. And that's being nice.

The 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs again. This one wasn't as close as the Super Bowl, falling 28-18. And there was plenty of blame to go around. With the loss and the Seattle Seahawks win, the 49ers fall out of a first-place tie.

Here are my rapid reactions. These are my live observations as the game unfolded. Warning: if you have a weak stomach, you may want to move on.

• It's the second play of the game and Jake Brendel is already killing drives.
• I love seeing Ricky Pearsall out there early. Amazingly, he's able to play after what he went through six weeks ago.
• The 49ers defense plays special teams better than the 49ers special teams. Great stop on that fake punt.
• Brock Purdy gives the ball right back to the Chiefs with a puzzling interception. That would be a theme for the day.
• I see the 49ers still haven't figured out how to keep Patrick Mahomes from hurting them with his feet.
• Kalia Davis with the rare tipped pass and interception by a defensive tackle.

• Running the ball on 3rd and short against one of the best run defenses in the game doesn't seem like the greatest plan.
• Malik Mustapha is a heat-seeking missile.
• The defense looks good early on. The offense—not so much.
• Purdy can't buy a completion in the first quarter.

• In his defense, his receivers are not getting open either.
• Anders Carlson with the 55-yarder in his first game with the 49ers. I did not expect that.
• Brandon Aiyuk with a big drop of a perfect Purdy pass.

• Another hideous play by special teams. I'm stunned by how bad they are.
• Mustapha is punishing people out there.

• Aaron Banks and Eric Saubert both tried to block the same guy. He still was able to sack Purdy. This offense has been awful today.
• Mitch Wishnowsky has been busy in the first half. That's how bad the offense has been.
• Pearsall's first NFL catch gets the crowd into it. That's the first thing they've been able to cheer about on offense.
• Now Aiyuk is hurt. The 49ers are already without Jauan Jennings. And Deebo Samuel has only played a few snaps due to an illness.
• That Aiyuk had to be carted to the locker room is concerning.

• Jacob Cowing looked fast on his late first-half catch.
• The 49ers run game has been so bad they can't even gain one yard. Pathetic.
• Deommodore Lenoir is elite.
• I like seeing the 49ers get back in this game. It shows a lot of determination.
• Carlson, how do you miss a PAT after making a 55-yarder? Kickers!
• You can't trust any part of the 49ers special teams. I don't see how Brian Schneider can make it past this season.
• Maliek Collins has hit Mahomes a few times today.
• Nothing good happens when you throw to Ronnie Bell.

• That was pitiful defense on Mahomes' 33-yard run. Just embarrassing.
• Why is Ji'Ayir Brown guarding Travis Kelce?
• Cowing has deep speed. They need to use that more.

• Purdy has not been good today.
• Colton McKivitz is never good.

• Why don't the 49ers run screen passes like the Chiefs do? That was a staple of Bill Walsh's offense. It hasn't been in Kyle Shanahan's.
• I guess the Chiefs are allowed to throw punches and not get ejected. Seems fair.

That was an abysmal performance, especially by the offense. They couldn't run the ball, they couldn't throw the ball. And the defense wasn't much better. Granted, they were missing some key players, but you'd still like to see them play better. Next up is the Dallas Cowboys, who are also coming off a bye.

• Marc Adams
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