Super Bowl 58 was an instant classic with the Kansas City Chiefs coming from behind to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime.
The 49ers won the coin toss in overtime and elected to receive despite the new OT rules requiring both teams to have at least one possession. Much has been made about Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers’ decision to receive the ball rather than defend first, with many questioning the move.
NFL Insider Brian Baldinger of the Audacy original podcast “In The Huddle” explained why he had absolutely no problem with the 49ers electing to receive the ball first in overtime.
“I think Kyle (Shanahan) knew what he was doing. Fred Warner’s the captain out there, he chose heads, it was heads, they had a choice. Kyle’s explanation makes sense to me,” Baldinger said (17:10 in player above). “For example, you both get a chance to touch it so then if both teams score – field goals, touchdowns, whatever – then you’re going to get the ball the third time with a chance to win it.
“To me, Kyle’s saying ‘I’m going to go down and score’ – and they had a chance to score a touchdown, they just didn’t block the play correctly. They had a chance to score on their opening drive; they settle for a field goal. Mahomes made one play after another and they score a touchdown so they don’t get the third possession, but if they hold them to a field goal and it’s 22-22 then the 49ers get the ball a third time, and if they score on the next possession they win the game.”
Baldinger’s explanation does make sense. Being able to get the ball on the third possession with a chance to win the game with a field goal is important. However, it’s only important if you get there.
Nevertheless, the 49ers may have been in a lose-lose situation anyway with Patrick Mahomes locked in under center.
“I thought it made sense to me. If Patrick gets the ball first and they go down and score, you got to match the score otherwise you lose, and then Kansas City gets the ball on the third time to win it,” Baldinger continued. “To me, I thought he played it absolutely right.”
The debate will rage on over the 49ers’ decision to receive the ball, but Baldinger agreed with it.
“I had no problem with Kyle Shanahan’s explanation of taking the ball,” he said. “In fact, when Fred Warner won the toss and took the ball, I was like ‘Good, go down and score. Put the pressure on Kansas City.’”
Of course, the 49ers did score a field goal on the first possession and had the Chiefs on the ropes. Mahomes was able to convert a 4th-and-1 play, though, and then led his team down the field to win the game.