The Chiefs and 49ers played the second overtime in Super Bowl history. But the first with the rules modified in spring 2022 especially for the playoffs.
The modification was simple: each team would now have the ball at least once in attack. Enough to prevent the first attacking team from scoring a touchdown which ensures victory without the opposite camp being able to touch the leather, like what happened for the Patriots and the Falcons during the Super Bowl LI.
Return to Super Bowl LVIII between Kansas City and San Francisco. The 49ers won the coin toss. They choose to receive the ball.
This means that if they score three points, or even a touchdown, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will have the ball in stride, and they will surely use fourth downs without question. An advantage that San Francisco will not have, for fear of leaving without any points and losing on a field goal behind.
The rest was captured by Inside the NFL cameras.
“ They want the ball! They want the ball baby!“, rejoices Patrick Mahomes as he returns to the bench.
“ We want them to have the ball. If they want the ball, let them have it“, adds Travis Kelce.
On the 49ers side, we are less fixed on the rules.
“ Hey, even if we score a touchdown, they'll get the ball too? I did not know“, admits Kyle Juszczyk as he enters the field.
“You're going to give Patrick Mahomes the ball with four attempts? »
In his podcastTravis Kelce confirmed that the Chiefs also got what they wanted.
“ If you win the toss, that's what you win. You have the opportunity to have the advantage, and they gave it right back to us. […] When Fred (Warner) confirmed it to the referee, I jumped out of my chair. I said “come on guys, they want to receive, we’ll have the second possession and we’ll know exactly what to do.” The defense, you just have to keep them to three points, and we're going to win this game. »
On the set of the show Inside the NFL, former quarterback Jay Cutler was no less surprised.
“ I was shocked. Everyone was shocked. You're going to give the ball to Patrick Mahomes on second with four attempts? Someone's going to get fired. […] This is exactly what the Chiefs wanted. »
It didn't cost Kyle Shanahan his spot, but maybe a Super Bowl.
Here is what “Inside The NFL” captured…
“We want the ball.” –Kyle Shanahan
“They wanted it, baby!” –Patrick Mahomes
“They want it, they can have it.” –Travis Kelcepic.twitter.com/M78GZ26wIF https://t.co/LZvKaWe8oa— Evan Abrams (@EvanHAbrams) February 14, 2024
