Jimmy Garoppolo found Matt Breida on a 20-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at seven at the end of the first quarter.
Here’s what stood out in the first 15 minutes.
A better first drive from Garoppolo
Garoppolo’s performance Monday night against the Broncos was a hot topic for 49ers fans throughout the week. His first drive wasn’t perfect, but it was an improvement from last week.
Garoppolo went 3-for-6 with 32 yards on the opening drive that lasted 11 plays for 48 yards and was able to move the ball down to the Chiefs 30-yard line. Kyle Shanahan left the offense on the field for a fourth-and-1, but Garoppolo’s quick pass intended for Kendrick Bourne was knocked down at the line by Chris Jones.
The second drive was significantly better
After the defense allowed a 62-yard touchdown to Damien Williams to give the Chiefs an early 7-0 lead, Garoppolo responded in a big way.
The quarterback went 4-for-4 for 75 yards on his second drive with a touchdown pass to Matt Brieda from 20 yards out. Along with the 20-yard touchdown, the 49ers also had passes completed of 33 yards to Richie James and 16 yards to Dante Pettis.
Spreading the ball around
Garoppolo ended the first quarter 7-for-10 for 107 yards and a touchdown pass. He’s done a fantastic job of spreading the ball around, targeting seven different receivers. Bourne, Pettis, and Goodwin were targeted twice, with James, Breida, Samuel, and Juszczyk getting one target each.
