KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has set the NFL record for touchdown passes through a season's first three weeks.
And he still had the second half to go against San Francisco.
Mahomes threw TD passes to Chris Conley and Demetrius Harris before finding Sammy Watkins on a slant route with 34 seconds left before halftime to give the Chiefs a 35-7 lead.
Mahomes has 13 touchdown passes this season. Peyton Manning had the record of 12 set in 2013.
Making his first start at Arrowhead Stadium, Mahomes was 17 of 25 for 252 yards and three touchdowns at halftime. Eight different targets have receptions.
For more on Mahomes' performance and a breakdown of the Chiefs' home opener, be sure to check out KSHB's 4th-and-1 podcast, which is available at 5 a.m. each Monday morning.
49ERS FEAR SEASON-ENDING INJURY FOR QB
Meanwhile, the prospects for Mahomes' counterpart were dark.
The 49ers fear quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining an injury to the ACL in his left knee late in Sunday's 38-27 loss to Kansas City .
Garoppolo will have an MRI to confirm the severity of the injury, but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said "we fear an ACL." That would mean C.J. Beathard is in line to start at quarterback.
Garoppolo was 20 of 30 for 251 yards with two touchdowns and no picks against the Chiefs, and he was at his best in trying to rally the 49ers late. But after driving for a potential score in the fourth quarter, Garoppolo was flushed from the pocket and headed for the sideline.
He appeared to take an awkward step and his knee buckled, just as Chiefs cornerback Steven Nelson delivered a shoulder-to-shoulder blow. Garoppolo wound up leaving on a cart.
San Francisco wound up kicking a field goal for the final margin.
