Let's just get this out of the way, the "Alex Smith faces his former team" post. Everyone's doing it and I suppose we should to.
The 49ers beat the Chiefs, 15-13 on Friday night at Arrowhead. Alex Smith completed 7-of-16 passes for 62 yards. He did not throw a touchdown and he did not turn it over. His stats aren't the story here though. It's that Smith faced the same team that he played for over the last eight years.
"It was different," Alex said, repeating an answer he's given to the same question many times this week. "The guys that I played a long time with and know really well, some of them. It was weird facing them."
Trash talking?
"Yeah there was a lot of talking out there back and forth from a lot of those guys, especially the ones who had been there for a while," Alex said after the game.
Alex was then asked about this -- the pregame hug with Jim Harbaugh (via Niners Nation):
What did they say to each other? What were they talking about? Are they still pals?
"I felt like it was already in the past," Alex said of his quick pregame chat with Harbaugh. "He and I had talked since the trade and it just felt like it was all in the past. I wish him the best of luck moving forward."
The Chiefs will play the 49ers again next year so I am going to file away a few of these quotes:
49ers DT Justin Smith: "It was a little bit different. But, that's the NFL for you - a lot of roster changes. So, it's to be expected."
49ers RB Frank Gore: "It was strange. He did a pretty good job tonight. I am happy he's on a team that has great weapons. When they [the Chiefs] have a quarterback, they can do something. I am happy to see he is the man. Alex and I go back, we came [into the league] together. I just saw him go through so much. To see what he went through last year and now he's on what, I think, will be a good team. With the guys he has around him, I think he'll have a great year."
49ers LB Aldon Smith: "Alex was on the other side and that's how the business works sometimes. We were out there making plays, but he did a good job."
49ers QB Colin Kaepernick (on the pre-game meeting): "We were just seeing how each other were doing."
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh:"It felt a lot like going against my brother which I've had the opportunity to do. Alex is a one-of-a-kind of guy. Just being around him and watching him compete was very exciting to watch. I remember the first time I played against my former team, it was a great thrill of competition and I'm sure he felt that tonight. It was different and was somewhat personal, in the best kind of way. I wish him great success and health and we'll be following him. I thought he did well out there; he looked sharp, looked in control and had good command on his throws. It was an impressive night for him."
Find our complete 49ers-Chiefs game coverage right here.