The San Francisco 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 25–22 in overtime on Sunday, their second consecutive season in which the former went home empty against the latter under Kyle Shanahan.
The Chiefs’ game-winning field goal in the final seconds of regulation matched the 49ers and Chiefs at 19, marking the first Super Bowl to truly use the modified playoff overtime rules, which were implemented for the second time that year.
In the end, the 49ers won the coin toss and decided to receive the ball first. At first, I thought this was a smart move to protect the defense, which had appeared exhausted during the final defensive drive of regulation and would have to go back out there in unfavorable conditions.
San Francisco, having received the ball first, marched into the red zone; however, on third and four at the Kansas City 9-yard line, a crucial blocking error allowed Chiefs star defensive end Chris Jones to rush the passer untouched, resulting in a broken play and forcing the 49ers to settle for a field goal.
The Chiefs needed a touchdown to win, and they got it when Patrick Mahomes found Mecole Hardman for a quick score. This sealed the victory for Kansas City, who won the Super Bowl twice in a row.
Now, by drawing attention to Shanahan’s remark, I’m not supporting winning or delaying the coin toss since there are good arguments on both sides, particularly given how worn out the 49ers defense appeared to be at the end of regulation.
However, the main reason Shanahan’s argument was problematic was that he had a preconceived notion about Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ actions.Shanahan was pointing out the third possession because he thought his team would score a touchdown, which the Chiefs would probably equal. This would give San Francisco the opportunity to score in a tie game or sudden death.
But given his combative nature, there was no way Andy Reid was going to allow the game to continue to a third possession.
With that sudden-death concept in mind, the Chiefs were probably going to try to win the game by giving the ball to Patrick Mahomes.
The Chiefs would attempt a field goal if the 49ers failed to score. Kansas City would have gone for a touchdown, as they did, if San Francisco had converted a field goal.
However, rather than playing the manner Shanahan had in mind with his predetermined choice, the Chiefs were going to go for two and try to win the game in the event that the 49ers scored a touchdown.
Shanahan was indicating the third possession because he anticipated a touchdown from his side, which the Chiefs would most likely match. In a draw game or sudden death, San Francisco would have the chance to score as a result.
But Andy Reid was never going to let the game go to a third possession, not with his aggressive demeanor.
A postgame statement from Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones actually validated the reasoning, pointing out that his team was going for two if San Francisco scored a touchdown and that they were ready for the new overtime regulations.
According to Lindsay Jones of the Ringer, Jones stated, “We talked through this for two weeks.” “Our plan for passing the ball to the opposition was to go for two at the end of the game if they scored. We practiced it.
