One of the best parts of each Super Bowl is when the NFL releases all the footage from the big game after the confetti falls and the MVP announces his future trip to Disney World. As the history of the sport unfolds, it also includes key moments where you can hear the voices of the players and coaches themselves who took to the microphone.
Sure, there have been moments this year like the touching exchange between Travis Kelsey and Taylor Swift — although I admit it got a little dusty when Kelsey thanked her for flying halfway around the world. –But perhaps the most important sequence of the match began. A new light when the video was released.
Kyle Shanahan made the reception in overtime.
Shanahan’s decision has been much debated here and elsewhere. As outlined earlier this week, san francisco 49ers Head coaches decided whether to accept the rule change based on the numbers and thousands of simulations run when it was announced. By starting overtime with the ball, the 49ers had a slight — slight — advantage, according to the numbers. As Shanahan himself said after Super Bowl III, if the game went to sudden death, a lead would give them the first crack at winning.
There are just a few problems.
First, if the second team made a two-point conversion, the advantage decreased. And as we now know, ringer of kansas city chiefs We were going to win by two wins if we had to. Second, as I outlined earlier this week, going second changes the way you think as a play-caller. If you’re actually behind, you’ll be in fourth-down territory the moment the drive starts.
In third place is Patrick Mahomes. He also changes the numbers a bit.
Now you can see in real time how Shanahan’s decisions are viewed by both sidelines. NFL footage supports the idea that the Chiefs planned and actually wanted to go second in overtime. It also supports the idea that some San Francisco players, like Kyle Juszczyk, learned of the new overtime rule only after seeing it on the scoreboard.
Perhaps what stands out most is the confidence on Kansas City’s sideline. “We wanted them to have the ball,” Kelce said, pumping his fists. “They wanted it, they can have it.”
Of course we know how this story ends. The 49ers were forced into a field goal early in overtime, and the Chiefs scored the winning touchdown on their next drive.
If a situation like this were to occur in a future playoff game, I can imagine the discussion recorded on the microphone would be much different.
