The Chiefs move to 2-3 on the season heading into the bye week after a tough loss to the San Francisco 49ers on the road on Sunday.

After the game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid addressed his team's performance.

"The thing I was proud about was the way our team battled but we came up short and the guys—there's things that they can take from this and get ourselves better. That's what we're doing and we'll get rested up here a little bit this next week and get our health back some and get ourselves ready to go against San Diego."

In the loss, a bright spot for the Chiefs was the play of starting running back Jamaal Charles, who carried the ball 15 times for 80 yards. In that effort, he was able to pass Larry Johnson to move into second place on the Chiefs all-time career-rushing list. 

Reid spoke of Charles' accomplishment after the game.

"Well he passed up a great one in Larry (Johnson)," Reid said. "That's a compliment to him and to Jamaal (Charles) for all that he's done and will continue to do for the Chiefs. He's a class act and a good football player."

The Chiefs had chances in this game but a devastating penalty in the fourth quarter and a couple of key big plays from the 49ers offense were the difference.

As 49ers kicker Phil Dawson lined up for a 54-yard field goal attempt with just over four minutes left in the game, the Chiefs were flagged for having 12 men on the field.

At the time, the Chiefs were trailing by just two points and the penalty gave the 49ers a first down, allowing them to run more time off the clock. 

"I'll take the responsibility for that," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said after the game. "I've got to make sure that I count the guys and make sure that down the stretch that everybody knows what they're doing there and that they do it."

That wasn't the only game-changing play from the 49ers special teams.

On fourth-and-1 one from their own 29-yard line early in the fourth quarter, 49ers safety Craig Dahl took the direct snap on a fake punt and ran for three yards to pick up the first down.

"I mean they got us," Reid said of the fake punt. "We prepared for it. Against this team, you have to be ready for all that stuff so they got us on that one and they almost bobbled the snap there a bit but they got it done and were able to move us out of the way and get the first."

The 49ers continued that drive and it ended with a 27-yard field goal from kicker Phil Dawson, and it gave the lead back to the 49ers at 17-16.

Sunday's game was also the debut of rookie De'Anthony Thomas, the Chiefs fourth-round pick out of Oregon who had been out with a hamstring injury.

Thomas' presence was felt on a couple of plays.

The Chiefs defense forced a punt on the 49ers opening drive of the second half, and Thomas returned that punt 28 yards and gave the offense great field position at the Chiefs 42-yard line.

Just four plays later, Thomas took the swing pass from Alex Smith 17 yards for the touchdown, the first of his career.

Reid was pleased with the debut of his rookie playmaker.

"I wasn't sure exactly how much we'd get out of him just from the setbacks that he has had but I thought he did a nice job when given the opportunity there," Reid said.

"He had some big plays for us."

Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith also liked what he saw from Thomas.

"He made the play," Smith said of Thomas' touchdown. "He's got that kind of ability—he's that kind of playmaker. Get him in space and he's got that kind of potential and you saw that today."

Smith finished the game 17 of 31 for 175 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Reid spoke of his quarterback's performance and his return to play his former team. "He did just what I thought he would do—come out and play good football," Reid said. "[He] led the football team."