After a sluggish first quarter, the first score was once again a 55-yard field goal, and Mecole Hardman continues to be a 49ers killer.
In Super Bowl LVIII, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22, and the first score occurred at 14:48 in the second quarter when Jake Moody hit a 55-yard field goal.
During Sunday’s 28-18 Chiefs victory in the first rematch between the two teams, the game started scoreless for more than 13 minutes, and then the first points were also a 49ers 55-yard field goal.
“(Anders) Carlson crushed that kick. But that’s actually really funny that that happened in both games,” Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker said. “It just felt like a slow game and without a lot of action … both defenses were doing a really good job in both games.”
Just as Super Bowl LVIII got off to a sluggish offensive start, the early going on Sunday was ruled by the defenses.
The first quarter alone featured interceptions by both teams. The 49ers didn’t get a first down until their fourth possession, and the Chiefs failed to convert a first down on a fake punt.
That made for an eight-point margin at halftime similar to the seven-point margin in Super Bowl LVIII at the same point.
And once again Mecole Hardman, who had the walk-off touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, was a thorn in the 49ers’ side. The last time he played at Levi’s Stadium, he had three touchdowns.
To what does Hardman attribute his success against the 49ers.
