SANTA CLARA — Today’s 49ers-Chiefs game is, of course, a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl, and thus it’s commanded Fox Sports’ No. 1 broadcast team that includes Tom Brady.
Two other noteable analysts shared their takes before kickoff: Brady’s old coach, Bill Belichick, and another former NFL coach, Jon Gruden.
Belichick chimed in on the CW’s “Inside The NFL” this past week and offered the 49ers (3-3) clues on how to finally conquer the Chiefs (5-0).
“Coach (Kyle) Shanahan has to figure out, ‘How do we skip third down? How do we get more yardage on first and second down to creat third-and-short situations?’ ” Belichick said. “And then, above all us, we have to beat man-to-man coverage, and the blitz, (because) that’s what Spags is going to do.”
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo flummoxed the 49ers with man coverage and timely blitzes in Kansas City’s 25-22 overtime win. Of all the man-to-man matchups this game might offer, Belichick is spotlighting one in particular: tight end George Kittle’s.
“I would get Kittle – I don’t care if you put a safety, a linebacker, or a corner on him — I think Kittle is their best matchup in man-to-man coverage,” Belichick said.
Gruden did an hour-long preview on his YouTube channel, hailing Shanahan and the Chiefs’ Andy Reid as “the best play designers on the planet.”
“This game features quarterback Patrick Mahomes vs Brock Purdy, Andy Reid and Shanahann — coach-quarterback continuity that doesn’t really exist in many organizations anymore,” Gruden said. “That’s what I really like about this game.”
What Gruden doesn’t like is the 49ers’ special teams, which is committing weekly gaffes and now deploys Anders Carlson as their third kicker in as many games; Jake Moody and Matthew Wright got hurt in the preceding two games by making tackles on kickoff coverage.
“I do believe special teams could be and probably will be a big issue in this game. So far the 49ers have really struggled,” Gruden said. “The special teams of the 49ers better get their act together, because the Chiefs have a special teams coach in Dave Toub who’s done this forever. So be alert for Kanas City to take advantage of some of the cracks in the 49ers’ special teams.”
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49ERS, CHIEFS INACTIVES
About 30 minutes before kickoff, the 49ers announced that Deebo Samuel is battling an illness but expected to play. Other wide receivers who are suited up: Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall (NFL debut), Chris Conley, Jacob Cowing, and Ronnie Bell; Jauan Jennings (hip) is inactive.
There were no surprises among the 49ers inactives — wide receiver Jauan Jennings, quarterback Josh Dobbs, tight end Brayden Willis, linebacker Jalen Graham, place kicker Jake Moody, offensive lineman Ben Bartch and cornerback Darrell Luter.
Jennings, the 49ers leading wide receiver with 25 receptions, 404 yards and three touchdowns, was declared out on Friday with a hip injury. Shanahan hopes to have him back in Week 8 when the 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys.
Making their 49ers debuts will be wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. and place kicker Anders Carlson, the latter who could hold the job until Moody is recovered from a high ankle sprain.
Inactive for the Chiefs are running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, defensive end Mike Danna, offensive lineman C.J. Hanson, offensive tackle Ethan Driskell and defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu.