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The 49ers tested the clutch power of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and it came back in Sunday’s heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl III.
San Francisco’s decision to receive the ball after winning the overtime coin toss confused the entire NFL world and inspired some Chiefs players.
“Yeah, as a defensive player, I think it’s a little disrespectful,” Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton told reporters after Kansas City’s 25-22 Super Bowl win. Ta. One and a half minutes. So my legs are a little tired. Yeah, that’s part of it. ”
Considering the NFL’s new overtime playoff rules that give both teams a fair chance to get the ball, the choice to get the ball second seemed like the obvious right choice to most people watching. It seemed like San Francisco would go against the general consensus.
Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the loss that he didn’t regret his decision, saying he would have liked a “third” ball if both teams had scored evenly.
San Francisco’s reasoning was incredible for Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones.
“They’re crazy, they’re crazy,” Jones said after the game. “This is because the rules for overtime have changed so that both teams can get the ball no matter who scores.So, originally, it would have been better to give the ball to the other team and keep them in possession of three players. I want to stop it so I know what I got. Or if I stop it.” Once they punt, all you have to do is kick three.
“…I think we talked about it when we went to the TV break, they were in 25th place. No matter what we do, we can’t let them score. If we can keep it to three points, we can win this game, and we were able to do that.”
The 49ers took a 22-19 lead early in overtime with a Jake Moody field goal. But Mahomes shined even brighter under pressure, leading a game-winning 75-yard touchdown drive to secure Kansas City’s back-to-back championship.
Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman said what was going through the 49ers’ heads when they elected to receive the ball to start the extra quarter.
“I thought the right thing to do was defer, but when they got the ball, we knew what we had to do as an offense,” Hardman said. When they kicked the field goal, we looked at each other and thought, let’s go score. It’s time to go score, and let’s go win this game.
“That was our mindset all along, but we stopped doing that.”
In addition to the players weighing in on San Francisco’s decision, several sports analysts wasted time the next morning asking Shanahan and the 49ers questions.
“Honestly, I like being second to the ball because I like to know what I need,” ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe said Monday on “First Take.” ” he said. “So, you know what? If you don’t get it on third down, you can go get it on fourth down, so you get more downs. And that was the difference. Kyle Shanahan, he got a field goal. But did you know?” “He needed a touchdown. He’s going for it. It’s not like the old rules. It’s the postseason. Everybody’s going to have possession. So, first. The points don’t matter.”
“If it were me, I would have held off because I need to know what Patrick Mahomes did so we have a chance to match or exceed what he did.”
Sitting next to Sharp was ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who was more critical of his choice of words, calling San Francisco’s decision and the players’ lack of knowledge of the new rules “a stain on the entire organization.” “It’s embarrassing,” he said. and “neglect of duty.”
But Shanahan said he has no regrets about his decision in the loss, and that while it may take time, the 49ers hope to put this heartbreaking loss behind them and return to the Quest for Six in 2024. .
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