SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- The powerful '91 49'ers welcomed the '02 Chiefs to Candlestick Park in a NPT elimination game in what promised to be a night of offensive fireworks. It did not disappoint. KC marched 56 yards in 7 plays on the opening possession. The 'Niners responded with a 12-play, 86-yard drive to make it 7-7. KC moved 53 yards to the SF 22, but early in the 2Q Green was picked off on a flare pass (INT odds 102, rolled a 100). Amazingly, KC held and forced a punt.
KC them covered 70 yards in 7 plays, as Green hit Gonzalez on a 37-yard slant for a 14-7 lead midway through the 2Q. The game then got really, really bizarre. SF committed a penalty on the KO return and took over on its 9. Facing 4th and 4 at its 15, the 'Niners went for it, and Young's medium-long pass to Carter was broken up. However, after failing to be stopped by anything but a turnover on its first three possessions, KC could not capitalize on the great field position. Three plays netted eight yards, and on 4th and 2 at the 7, KC faked the field goal, but Collins was nailed for a loss. The third bizarre possession in a row then transpired as the 'Niners faked a punt from their own 32, and the pass was incomplete. With 1:53 left in the half, KC covered 32 yards for the TD, and it was 21-7 KC at the half. The Chiefs were simply shocked that they had held SF to 7 first-half points and under 150 yards. But they knew it would be tough to repeat that success in the second half.
How right they were. SF's implosion continued at the start of the 3Q, as the 'Niners fumbled it away on their third play at their own 9. Green immediately found Hall for the TD, and it was a 28-7 game early in the 3Q. SF only needed 7 plays to cover 69 yards and make it 28-14 on Keith Henderson's run. Trent Green was shaken up on the next KC play, and the unstoppable Todd Collins came on and directed an 80-yard drive to paydirt, making it 34-14 midway through the 3Q as the PAT was deflected. Young hit Henderson for 29 on the next drive, that covered 80 yards in 7 plays and found Henderson running it in again to make it 34-21 late in the 3Q. Dante Hall finally earned his money in this tourney by returning the kickoff 99 yards for a TD. The Chiefs converted the 2-pointer to make it 42-21.
SF methodically marched 77 yards on 11 plays to make it 42-28 with 12:40 to play. KC then ate up five minutes of clock in going 80 yards for a TD to make it 49-28. KC faced 4th and 1 at the SF 34, and instead of trying the long FG, they gambled, and Green hit Priest Holmes on a slant that resulted in a 34-yard TD against the full blitz. 7:01 rewained as SF was still 3 TDs away. 7 minutes is a Louisiana lifetime to the 'Niners. KC got its hopes up when the 'Niners took almost 4 minutes to go 49 yards and score. For some reason, SF went for two and got it, making it 49-36 with 3:14 to go. Still, KC figured to be able to eat up enough clock to hang on to the 2-TD lead. No dice. SF converted the onsides kickoff at the SF 46. It took a full two plays for SF to score, with Young hitting Rice for 35 and Taylor for 19. It was 49-43, and a full 2:57 remained. The next onsides kickoff failed and KC took over at the SF 45. Against the run defense, Green looked to hit short passses, but failed on three in a row, consuming only :22. KC punted to the SF 10 and fans covered their eyes.
SF had all three timeouts. A holding penalty pushed SF back to the five. With fatigued receivers making double-coverage slightly easier, Young missed on a play-action bomb to Rice. Carter picked up 10 yards on a draw to the 15. young hit Carter on a flare for 13 to the 28 with 1:17 to go. Young then was sacked for an 11-yard loss to the 17 as SF used its first timeout with 1:07 to play. Young found Carter for 17, but Carter fumbled. Taylor picked it up for SF and lost a yard. 3rd and 5 at the SF with :58 left. Young went medium-long to Rice, incomplete. Penalty on SF for holding. KC declined, making it 4th and 5 with :51 left. Biggest play of the game. Young looked medium-long, but the double-covered Taylor could not haul it in, and KC held on for the wild win.
-contributed by Chris Howell-
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