First half doesn’t dazzle, but QBs set tone

Mahomes, Garoppolo take charge as Chiefs, 49ers battle

MIAMI GARDENS — It may not have been an offensive shootout, but the first half of the Super Bowl set the stage for an exciting finish.

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers both experienced early jitters on both sides of the ball before quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo set the tone for their teams before their 10-10 halftime score.

Mahomes took over on offense on his second drive to score the first touchdown on a 1-yard run up the right side to answer an early field goal by the 49ers.

Mahomes’ score ended a 15-play drive that saw the Chiefs set an early tone during the game with a balanced offense, using former Miami Dolphins running back Damien Williams to run the ball, while Mahomes sprinkled his bits of greatness in between.

One such instance occurred when Mahomes collided into 49ers safety Jimmie Ward at the 1-yard line shortly before his touchdown. Mahomes slid short of the goal line, while Ward landed a wicked hit on the Chiefs quarterback and league MVP a season ago.

Instead of the Mahomes feeling the force of the hit, he bounced back to his feet to see Ward writhing in pain on the field.

It was an early blow the 49ers suffered, and was quickly followed by another miscue.

Garoppolo, playing in his first Super Bowl as a starting quarterback, was picked off by Bashaud Breeland near the start of the second quarter after taking a hard hit by

Chiefs defensive lineman Mike Pennel.

While their 49ers offense produced the first turnover of the game, the 49ers defense kept the game close, slowing Mahomes on his next offensive drive.

Mahomes was unable to connect on a short pass inside the 25-yard line to backup running back Darwin Thompson to extend a drive, and Kansas City was forced to settle for a 31-yard field goal to take a 10-3 lead with 9:32 left in the second quarter.

Garoppolo regrouped on the ensuing drive, throwing a short pass to 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk for a 15-yard touchdown to tie the game with 5:05 left in the second quarter.

Shortly before halftime, the 49ers nearly reached the red zone, but tight end George Kittle was penalized for pushing off on a Chiefs defender when catching a long pass by Garoppolo with roughly 6 seconds left in the first half.

Kyle Shanahan, coaching in his second Super Bowl in three years, may have had a costly miscue failing to call a time out before the Chiefs punted to the 49ers with less than a minute left. Had Shanahan called the timeout, San Francisco may have had more time to make the most out of the final minute in the first half.

Instead, both teams entered halftime without a formal review of Kittle’s play that could have at least altered the ending to the first half.

■ Juszczyk’s touchdown was the first Super Bowl touchdown by a fullback since Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan favorite Mike Alstott scored one in 2003.

■ With 53 rushing yards gained during the beginning of the third quarter, 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel set the NFL record for most rushing yards by a wide receiver in a Super Bowl. The previous record was held Percy Harvin during 2014 Super Bowl.