San Francisco 49ers Week 7 playbook: What to know ahead of Chiefs matchup

Brock Purdy hasn’t gotten the same shine as a player like Joe Burrow because he entered the league as the last pick of the 2022 draft after an obscure career at Iowa State. He also doesn’t get as much credit for his performance because of the San Francisco 49ers’ scheme. Those labels are hard to shake, but it’s probably long overdue to consider Purdy among the game’s best quarterbacks. This week he will have another chance to prove it with a rematch of February’s Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.

How good are the 49ers?

Check out Austin Mock’s 2024 NFL projections, where you will find each team’s probability of conquering its division, advancing through the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl. The projections are based on 100,000 simulations of the remainder of the season, which factors in each team’s projected strength, current health as well as its remaining schedule.

Week 7: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 1:25 p.m. PT (FOX)

Michael Silver: The mission for covering the NFL has never been clearer
Joining The Athletic feels right — in this moment, and as the culmination of an amazing journey.

What’s changed since the Super Bowl?
A lot has changed for both teams since their overtime thriller in Las Vegas, including significant injuries. Our beat writers break it down.

Most prominent improvement? Guard Dominick Puni
The rookie will get the biggest test of the season in the Chiefs’ Chris Jones, who’s been a consistent game wrecker against the 49ers.

Mailbag: Something’s rotten on special teams
Among this week’s questions: Why can’t Mitch Wishnowsky handle kickoffs and why was Brayden Willis promoted to the active roster?

Ricky Pearsall returns to practice 6 weeks after shooting
The return of Ricky Pearsall, who was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt nine days before the season began, added energy to the start of the week.

📈 Power Rankings: 49ers on the rise
Will Christian McCaffrey play this season? The 49ers could have opened the running back’s window to return this week. They did not. That’s not an encouraging sign.

Scouting the opponent
Catch up on all the latest news on the Chiefs before this Super Bowl rematch.

Around the NFL

Sando’s Pick Six: Deshaun Watson and a Browns escape plan
The salary cap would make cutting Watson painful but not impossible. Could the Browns thread the tiniest needle with a trade?

Why Davante Adams, Amari Cooper trades could be different
In-season wide receiver trades usually flop. But the Jets and Bills should not necessarily panic.

NFL panic meter
How worried should the Cowboys, Browns and other struggling teams be?

NFL QB stock report
Since 2022, Brock Purdy has been just as good, if not better, than Bengals QB Joe Burrow. So why doesn’t he get the same shine?

Exclusive: Jerry Jones explains himself after fired up comments
“The facts are that if I’m going to be grilled by the tribunal, I don’t need it to be by the guys I’m paying.”

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(Top photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)