Game review

OFFENSE

All hail, the old men: RB Frank Gore, 31, had 107 rushing yards and WR Brandon Lloyd, 33, had a gamehigh 76 receiving yards. QB Colin Kaepernick turned in an efficient (201 yards, 92.0 QB rating), mistake-free (0 INTs) performance. The offensive line had a brief meltdown in pass blocking before recovering by doing what it does best: run blocking.

DEFENSE

The 49ers became whole again after Alex Smith engineered two first-quarter drives that netted 10 points and included 26 plays, 144 yards and nine first downs. Kansas City managed five first downs and seven points on its final seven drives. The pass rush was negligible (0 sacks), which could be a consistent refrain until Aldon Smith returns.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Phil Dawson is evidently comfortable at Levi’s Stadium: He was 5-for-5 on FGAs, including no-doubters from55 and 52 yards. This unit also pulled off one of the biggest plays of the game: Craig Dahl’s 3-yard, fourth-quarter run on a 4th-and-1 fake punt from the 49ers’ 29-yard line.

COACHING

Trailing by one in the fourth quarter, it takes nerve to call a fake punt deep in your territory. When it works, you look brilliant, and the 49ers’ call extended a drive that netted a go-ahead FG. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio clearly adjusted after the Chiefs were 5-for-6 on third downs on their first two drives (1-for-5 after).

OVERALL

Zero turnovers, two penalties, no clock-management issues and a successful second half featuring 49ers staples: a sensational running attack and a suffocating defense. It was a crisp and impressive win over a 2013 playoff team.