Jim Alexander: Well, we’ve survived another over-the-top Super Bowl week – Wretched Excess LVIII, let’s say, this one in the capital of that particular concept. And along with all of the side issues and conversation points and the normal Things That Have Nothing To Do With Football that make the Super Bowl the national talking point that it is, we have a real second-guess that actually had to do with winning or losing. And, perhaps, an explanation.
The 49ers, as we all know, won the toss and took the first possession of overtime. Under the old overtime rules – team that scores first wins – that’s a no-brainer, and even under recent modifications it still seemed to be the way to go. But the latest tweak, guaranteeing at least one possession for each team unless there was a defensive touchdown on the first possession, made it more logical to let the other guys go first and then know exactly what was needed to win.
One theory at the time was that Kyle Shanahan wanted the ball first because his defense was worn out, which made sense. (Both defenses were fatigued by that point.) Another rationalization was that the 49ers were thinking ahead to the third possession of OT, given that if it came to that point it would be sudden death.
But how about this: According to Lindsay Jones of The Ringer, the Chiefs not only were aware of the new rules but had discussed them as early as training camp, and by this point were fully conversant with their options. But several 49ers players said they were not aware of the tweaks, and defensive lineman Arik Armstead said he only learned it when they posted the updated rules on the stadium video board.
It’s all in the details, right?
Mirjam Swanson: Always is.
When this discussion began at my house last night, it felt very hindsight-y – like, of course we’re going to think the other way was the way to go when Shanahan’s decision didn’t work.
But the more I think about it, the more it seems you’re right:…
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