Alex Smith will face his former team when the San Francisco 49ers come to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs on Friday, Aug. 16. The former top overall pick was traded to Kansas City after he was made expendable by Colin Kaepernick, and he will quickly get the chance to go back at them. It may not have the drama of a regular season meeting, but hey, at least we have games to watch.
NFL preseason 2013: Game preview for 49ers vs. Chiefs
Alex Smith gets his first shot at his former team early in his Chiefs career. Here’s everything you need to know about the Chiefs and 49ers’ matchup this weekend at Arrowhead.
Joe Robbins
Both teams dropped their preseason openers last week, and even if preseason results are ultimately meaningless, I’m sure both teams will want to get a win under their belt. As is the case with the second round of preseason games, viewers can probably expect to see the starters in the game for a bit longer than last week.
Meet the Chiefs
This is Year One of the new regime in Kansas City. Gone are Scott Pioli and Romeo Crennel, and in are John Dorsey and Andy Reid. They brought in a significant class of free agents to bolster a team that went 2-14 in 2012 and finished with the first pick in the draft, and also traded for Smith to be at least the short-term answer at quarterback. The Chiefs should easily be better than they were last year, but how much, exactly, remains to be seen.
Meet the 49ers
The 49ers made it all the way to the Super Bowl last year, and after a strong offseason, the only thing left for them to do is go back and win it this time. Colin Kaepernick is a year older and more experienced, and they drafted potential impact players in safety Eric Reid and defensive end Tank Carradine. Add in veteran additions like cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and wide receiver Anquan Boldin, and you have a team that looks scarier than it did last year. That's not a good thought for the rest of the NFC.
Local Takes: Chiefs
Joel Thorman from Arrowhead Pride breaks down the new developments concerning Jamaal Charles' injured foot:
Notable developments, according to those three, include:
1. Charles is in uniform but not in pads. He is at practice.
2. He is NOT wearing a boot or cast on his foot, which is a strong sign.
3. Charles is “not really limping” according to the AP’s Dave Skretta.
Local Takes: 49ers
David Fucillo from Niners Nation takes a look at the latest 49ers depth chart, and tries to predict who won’t make it to the regular season with the team:
In looking at the current roster, some guys who are looming as part of the first 15 cuts include Patrick Omameh, Wayne Tribue, Jason Schepler, Mike Purcell and Lamar Divens. Those are probably the easiest names on the list. After that, I'd imagine Al Netter, possibly Chuck Jacobs and/or Lavelle Hawkins, Travis Johnson and maybe Darryl Morris could all find themselves on the chopping block. As the 49ers get deeper, it becomes harder to find some of the more immediate roster cuts.
Follow the Fun
Be sure to check out SB Nation’s team blogs, Arrowhead Pride and Niners Nation, for more analysis and highlights from the game.
Add these fine follows to your Twitter timeline:
Is this good or bad? #camplife RT @Jacobs71 Alex Smith with the pass intended to Baldwin. Brandon Flowers jumps the route for a pick six
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) August 13, 2013
Nothing on Dorsey. REVENGE GAME! RT @J9hillon: Anything on Dorsey playing his old team? @NinersNation
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) August 13, 2013
@adamteicher - Chiefs beat writer for the Kansas City Star
Chiefs trainer Rick burlholder said Charles os day to day. Ruled out long term issue like lisfranc
— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) August 13, 2013
@MaioccoCSN - 49ers reporter for CSN Bay Area
Kaepernick-to-Vernon Davis was on fire today; good practice for rookie CB Darryl Morris; Gore with diving TD grab; quiet day for Jenkins.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) August 11, 2013
Prediction
Predicting preseason games is always a dicey proposition, but despite the improvements to the Chiefs roster, the 49ers look like the easy pick. They’re simply the more talented team, and if Jamaal Charles sits this game out, the Chiefs will be without their most explosive weapon. Even if he does play, though, it’s not like the starters will play all four quarters.
Odds
The Chiefs are anywhere from even to 1.5-point favorites, according to OddsShark.com. Most betting houses are offering the over/under at 40 points.
Next Week
The 49ers return home to take on the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday, Aug. 25. The Chiefs hit the road to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, Aug. 24.
See More:
