Chiefs Blowout 49ers, 3-0 for first time since 2003

I didn't get to watch much of this game, but there were some great highlights. To help me process and understand exactly how the Chiefs dominated the 49ers, I'm going to breakdown how each drive ended:

KC punt
SF punt
KC punt
SF punt
Cassel throws interception
Smith throws interception
Cassel to McCluster, 31-yard TD pass
Nedney 51-yard FG
Succop misses 38-yard FG
SF punt
Succop 32-yard FG

Halftime

SF punt
KC punt
SF punt
Direct snap to Jones, handoff to McCluster, pitch to Cassel, bomb to Bowe 45-yard TD pass
SF punt
Cassel to Moeaki, 18-yard TD pass
SF turnover on downs
KC punt
SF punt
Jones 3-yard TD run (57-yard drive: 7 runs, 0 passes)
SF punt
KC turnover on downs (with 3rd string trying to run out clock)
Smith to Morgan, 12-yard TD pass on last play of game.

Wow. So despite a Cassel interception and a Chiefs missed field goal, the Chiefs were up 31-3 with 3 seconds to go. Let's take a look at this Chiefs' defense.

San Francisco had the ball 12 times.
8 punts.
1 interception.
1 failed 4th down.
1 field goal from 51-yards.
1 garbage time touchdown.

Last year the Chiefs had the 2nd-worst rush defense = 156 yards/game. (TB 158)
They were 30th in total yards on defense, and 29th in total points on defense.
That's not good.

Through three games, the top defenses in points/game are Steelers, Jets, Chiefs, Vikings.
And right now they are 6th in rush defense = 75 yards/game.

And really, the front seven hasn't changed. We brought in Eric Berry at Safety, but you'd have to think that Romeo deserves the credit for the run defense's improvement.

What about on the offensive side?

Last year we had the #11 rush offense. This year? #1. 160 yards/game. Best in the NFL.

Let's look at yards/carry (minimum 10 carries):

1. Jamaal Charles 7.0
2. Tomlinson 6.3
3. McCoy 6.1
(Peterson 5.6, C. Johnson 4.0)

Charles -- 34 carries for 238
Chris Johnson -- 75 carries for 301

- - -

Let's get back to today's game. The turnover battle was even. The Chiefs didn't get any huge plays on special teams. And it was scoreless after one, and close at the half. How'd this get to be a blowout?

Well it helped that we sacked them 5 times, and gave up 0.

Last year we sacked opponents 22 times, and gave up 45. (Coming after the year which we broke a record, only sacking opponents 10 times in 16 games in 2008.)

The first score came following the Flowers interception: Cassel to McCluster in the flat, spin move, speed burst up the sideline, cut it back and dive in the endzone.

The second touchdown came on a possession starting at the SF 45. (Chiefs punted from KC 19 + SF penalty and 49ers start on own 12. SF punts from SF 15 + KC return to start on SF 45--that's winning the field position battle.) This was the fleaflicker from Jones to McCluster to Cassel. Previously in the game the Chiefs converted a 4th and 1 with a handoff to McCluster. That play forced the 49ers to key on the McCluster handoff, leaving Bowe wide open deep. Great play design. I'll take deep touchdown passes anyway we can get them.

Up 17-3, the Chiefs finally had their first solid touchdown drive of 2010. 8 plays, 61 yards. 6 runs, 2 passes. First pass was on 3rd and 4, short pass to Charles that he turns into a 22-yard pickup. Second one was a 3rd and 5 from the 18, pass to the endzone and Moeaki makes a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab.

Up 24-3, with 8 minutes left in the game, the Chiefs run the ball 7 times in a row, eat up 4:30 and get a touchdown. Seals the game.

Who deserves game balls? Just about everyone.

Cassel gets 3 TDs for first time as a Chief.
Jones and Charles are two-headed monster.
McCluster made key plays, turned a short pass into a touchdown, and set up the fleaflicker.
Bowe made the big deep catch that broke the game open.
Moeaki is the team's leading receiver and had a huge one-handed catch.
O-line gave up ZERO sacks and paved the way for over 200 rushing yards.
Flowers created an interception out of nothing.
Hali had three sacks and a forced fumble (even though it wasn't recovered)
Romeo's D shut them down.
Charlie's O had 21 first downs, 50% on 3rd down and even had a few tricks.
Haley has turned this team around. The players believe and they show up at home. This team may not be guaranteed a playoff spot, but Arrowhead is back (at least for now).

Everyone came together for a blowout. I'm not singling any one out, this was a team win.