The Kansas City Chiefs got off to a fast start on defense against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, forcing a fumble on their opponent’s opening drive to take possession early in the first quarter.
After San Francisco gave the ball to star running back Christian McCaffrey one too many times on their first possession, Mike Pennel and Leo Chenal forced the ball free, and defensive lineman George Karlaftis recovered it.
Check out the play here, and notice how quickly Karlaftis responded when the ball was punched out:
Chiefs force the fumble and firmly grasp the recovery 👀
📺: #SBLVIII on Nickelodeon pic.twitter.com/DXQO4AJ2H3
— NFL (@NFL) February 11, 2024
This play could have made a huge difference in the game, as it gave Patrick Mahomes a chance to score the contest’s first points, but the Chiefs stalled on their first offensive drive and were forced to punt the ball back to the 49ers.
Expect more drama to ensue in this game as both teams feel each other out in the first half.