Travis Kelce calls 49ers defense ‘best challenge in league,’ Mahomes talks Collins hit after Super Bowl rematch

SANTA CLARA – Travis Kelce had a fairly quiet day on the Santa Clara field in Kansas City’s 28-18 victory over the 49ers. The future hall of famer had four catches for 17 yards, hardly featured in the Super Bowl rematch.

But while sitting at his locker postgame, a talkative Kelce was effusive in his praise of a 49ers defense that he has now played – and beaten – three times in the past three seasons.

“It’s the best challenge in the league,” Kelce said after his Chiefs improved to 6-0. “I love going up against the best in the league, and Fred (Warner) is definitely one of those guys and Nick Bosa is definitely one of those guys. They’ve just got a bunch of all-stars over there.”

And just like in February, the Chiefs found a way to defeat the 49ers, this time doing it in regulation.

Patrick Mahomes wasn’t his best through the air against that “all-star” defense, throwing for just 154 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns.

After the second of those picks, 49ers lineman Maliek Collins appeared to strike the Chiefs quarterback in the throat.

Mahomes, who rushed for a touchdown, downplayed the sequence afterwards.

“I’m hoping that he didn’t do it intentionally, and I don’t think he intentionally tried to hit me in the throat,” Mahomes said. “He tried to push me in the chest there, and he’s taller than me. After I threw the pick, I don’t know if I was fired up about that, or that I threw my second pick and hurt our defense.”

Kelce may have deemed the 49ers defense the best in the league, but they still had familiar tendencies that the Chiefs could exploit.

Nowhere was that more apparent than it was early in the fourth quarter with the Chiefs on the one-yard line.

Andy Reid pulled out a familiar play out of his bag, a short jerk route to Mecole Hardman that saw him feint inside before zooming to the perimeter. Mahomes’ throw went wide, otherwise Hardman would’ve scored again.

“It was a similar motion but a different play,” Mahomes said. “A similar motion based off how they guard the motions.”

The Kansas City defense had to face familiar motions by the San Francisco offense, but the plays were far less threatening with Christian McCaffrey and Jajuan Jennings ruled out before the game, and then Deebo Samuel (illness) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee injury) both lost midgame.

Reid believed that, given the circumstances, that Kyle Shanahan did a solid job of getting the 49ers offense into advantageous positions.

“I wouldn’t tell you that it is a completely different offense or defense,” Reid said. “Kyle’s got a lot of guys … number 24 (Jordan Mason) was giving them a lot of healthy yards. He’s done a heck of a job with what he’s got there.”

Defensive end George Karlaftis was part of the Chiefs defense that held that shorthanded Niner offense to 2 of 11 on third down conversion attempts, and forced three Brock Purdy interceptions.

“It was awesome,” Karlaftis said about the rematch. “They were in the Super Bowl last year, they are a great team. Obviously we have a lot of respect for them. They have play makers at every level so it was great to come out here at their house and win.”