The San Francisco 49ers’ heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl LVIII left fans and players alike confused and questioning their decision-making. The team’s choice to start overtime with the ball ultimately proved to be a costly mistake, highlighting their lack of awareness regarding the NFL’s new playoff overtime rules.
After winning the coin toss, the 49ers elected to receive the ball first, unaware that the rules had changed. In previous seasons, a team could win the game by scoring a touchdown on their opening possession. However, the new rules ensure that both teams have at least one possession, unless the first possession ends in a safety.
The confusion was evident among several 49ers players. Defensive lineman Arik Armstead admitted, “I didn’t even know about the new playoff overtime rule… They put it on the scoreboard and everyone was thinking, even if you score, they get a chance still.” Fullback Kyle Juszczyk shared a similar sentiment, saying, “I didn’t even realize that the playoff rules were different in overtime… So I just assumed you won the ball, you score a touchdown and you win.”
The 49ers’ decision to start with the ball resulted in a field goal by Jake Moody, giving them a narrow 22-19 lead. However, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led an impressive 75-yard touchdown drive, securing back-to-back championships for Kansas City.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan defended the decision, explaining that they had analyzed the situation and believed it would give them the best chance to win. “We wanted the ball third, but both teams matched and scored. We wanted to be the ones who had the chance to go win… We got that field goal, so we knew we had to hold them at least to a field goal and if we did we felt it was in our hands after that,” Shanahan said.
In contrast, the Chiefs seemed well-prepared for the situation. Safety Justin Reid revealed that they had discussed the new overtime rules during training camp before the start of the 2023 season. Defensive lineman Chris Jones added, “We talked through this for two weeks… We rehearsed it.”
The disparity in preparedness between the two teams was evident. The NFL had implemented the rule change in 2022 after the Buffalo Bills lost in overtime to the Chiefs during the previous year’s divisional playoffs. It appears that the 49ers were not as familiar with the rule change or had not adequately prepared for it.
The confusion and subsequent loss serve as a reminder of the importance of staying updated on rule changes and thoroughly preparing for all possible scenarios. In a game as high-stakes as the Super Bowl, every decision can make a significant impact on the outcome. The 49ers’ confusion over the overtime rules ultimately cost them the game and left fans wondering what could have been.
