As the Kansas City Chiefs gear up for their Week 7 showdown against the San Francisco 49ers, questions abound about whether Patrick Mahomes is experiencing a down year. With a career-low touchdown percentage and a career-high interception percentage, his stats have raised eyebrows. Although Mahomes is still averaging 247 yards per game, that’s a drop of 17 yards from his previous career low, leading some to doubt the Chiefs’ chances of representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.

However, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan firmly believes that Mahomes remains a top-tier quarterback. Addressing reporters, Shanahan stated, “I think everyone says down-year just because their numbers aren’t just crazy, but Pat is as good as it gets. He’s been as good as it gets since the first year that he got to play. All their games, I think, except for one, have come down to the last possession, and he’s as good as anyone in that last possession.”

Shanahan acknowledged that while the Chiefs’ running game and red zone efficiency may not match last year’s performance, it doesn’t detract from Mahomes’ exceptional skills. “Pat is Pat, and he’s as good as it gets, and I don’t see that changing at all.”

With Mahomes capable of turning games around in an instant, Shanahan’s respect for him is well-founded. Just last week, the former MVP showcased his talent against the New Orleans Saints, proving that he can still make a passing defense look foolish in a matter of plays.

Kyle Shanahan claps back on the 49ers man coverage issues

Shifting focus from the Chiefs’ star offensive players to their defensive strategies, which had posed challenges for the 49ers during the Super Bowl due to their man coverage schemes, Shanahan was questioned about whether Kansas City has discovered a way to exploit his offense.

While he acknowledged that the 49ers have faced more man coverage in 2024 compared to previous years, he emphasized that it hasn’t significantly altered their game plan, as they are well-prepared for what to expect.

“Some games, yes; some, no. In our last game, I didn’t perceive it that way. They employed more man coverage in the Super Bowl than they had previously. Historically, they operated around 20 percent man coverage but increased it to 35 percent during the Super Bowl, and that’s about where they are this year,” Shanahan explained.

“Last year, leading into that game, they utilized more press coverage than any other team throughout the season, and they continue that trend this year. Particularly in critical moments, like the fourth quarter, they were the league’s most frequent blitzers last year, and that remains true this year. Typically, when teams blitz a lot, you’ll see more man coverage, which aligns with their scheme. They definitely increased their man coverage last year, too.”

When asked about his receivers’ performance against man coverage this season, Shanahan praised them, acknowledging there’s always room for improvement.

“I think they’ve done some good things. I’m sure you guys have analytics on that, but I may not be fully aware. I’m always looking to improve, but I believe we’ve won some matchups and lost others, as is typical.”

Did the Chiefs reveal effective strategies for defending the 49ers’ YAC-heavy offense in the Super Bowl? Yes, but executing man coverage successfully requires a certain level of talent and experience with the coverage scheme. If the Chiefs attempt a similar approach in Week 7, they will be without their top cornerback from the Super Bowl and currently rank 20th in passing yards allowed.