Kansas City Chiefs vs San Francisco 49ers: Preview, Prediction & Odds - August 14, 2021

Game time: 8:30 p.m. ET; Aug. 14, 2021

Venue: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

Where to listen: NFL Game Pass, Westwood One, Sirius XM

Chiefs: 14-2 (1st place, AFC West; lost Super Bowl to Tampa Bay)

49ers: 6-10 (Last place, NFC West)

Passing: Patrick Mahomes -- 4,740 yards, 38 touchdowns, 6 interceptions

Rushing: Clyde Edwards-Helaire -- 803 yards, 4 touchdowns

Receiving: Travis Kelce -- 1,416 yards, 11 touchdowns

Tackles: Daniel Sorensen (91)

Sacks: Chris Jones (7.5)

Interceptions: Tyrann Mathieu (6)

Passing: Nick Mullens -- 2,437 yards, 12 touchdowns, 12 interceptions

Rushing: Jeff Wilson -- 600 yards, 7 touchdowns

Receiving: Brandon Aiyuk -- 748 yards, 5 touchdowns

Tackles: Fred Warner (125)

Sacks: Kerry Hyder (8.5)

Interceptions: Three tied (2)

DraftKings: 49ers -2.5, Chiefs +2.5

BetMGM: 49ers -2.5, Chiefs +2.5

FanDuel: 49ers -2.5, Chiefs +2.5

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Now that the Kansas City Chiefs have learned how to lose, what’s next?

More importantly, what comes next for quarterback Patrick Mahomes?

Mahomes was one win away from cementing his legacy already as one of the best quarterbacks of all time at such a young age. Then he ran into, literally, the greatest quarterback of all time in a crash course on how to be great.

The Chiefs’ quest to get back to the Super Bowl begins Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers in the first preseason games for both teams in a rematch of Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

While a lot can change in two years, much remains the same. We know how good the Chiefs are. The wide receivers Mahomes at his disposal -- from Travis Kelce, to Tyreek Hill, to Mecole Hardman -- is going to keep the Chiefs dangerous on that side of the ball alone.

The same may, or may not, be said for the 49ers entering a crucial year. Jimmy Garoppolo was once thought of as San Francisco’s prized asset, even leading the Niners to that appearance in the Super Bowl two years ago. Since then, the 49ers kicked the tires on replacing him with Tom Brady, and have now drafted rookie Trey Lance with the No. 2 pick to eventually be his successor.

But with the 49ers, it’s about going into training camp healthy on defense. Nick Bosa will return after missing last season with a torn ACL. His return, along with Arik Armstead and Dee Ford bringing reinforcements on the defensive line should bring the 49ers back to playoff contention.

We’re likely not to see Mahomes in this matchup, or in any preseason game throughout August. But the 49ers defense tends to be deeper than we think, and the under favors San Francisco in 13 of the last 17 when they allow 5 to 5.5 net passing yards per attempt. Chad Henne and Shane Buechele will likely get most of the reps in this game, and you’d expect a 49ers defense chomping at the bits to get ready for the regular season.

The 49ers offense, we’d expect, will run as much as it can throughout this preseason to determine who starts at quarterback in Week 1. The expectation is San Francisco, for the moment, will run everything it can. Based on the talent available, the 49ers should win this one. 49ers win 24-14.

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