For the first time according to playoff rules Implemented in 2022, the Super Bowl went into overtime. The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers were all tied at 19 apiece at the end of regulation and needed more time to decide who would win Super Bowl LVIII. The rules for extra time have been debated, controversial and changed over the years, so fans were given a refresher before free football began.
It turns out that some players also needed an explanation of the rules.
Several 49ers players admitted they were unfamiliar with overtime protocol and assumed it was the same as in the regular season, where a touchdown wins the game, even if the other team didn’t have one. ownership.
In the playoffs and Super Bowl, both offenses have a chance to have the ball and if the game is still tied after both teams have possession, then it enters sudden death, unless the first drive of the game is a safety, which ends the contest. The 49ers won the coin toss before the second overtime in Super Bowl history and elected to receive the ball.
Many have criticized head coach Kyle Shanahan’s decision, but he says he wanted to make sure the Niners had the ball if things were tied after each team had the ball. Some of his players thought the reason they were taking the ball was because a touchdown won the game, as it does in the regular season. They were surprised to find that this was not the case.
“I didn’t even know about the new overtime rule in the playoffs, so that was a surprise to me,” San Francisco defensive lineman Arik Armstead said after the loss. “I didn’t even really know what was going on about that.”
Armstead said he learned the rules when they were broadcast on the Jumbotron at Allegiant Stadium.
Niners guard Kyle Juszczyk said the team didn’t repeat an overtime situation.
“You know what? I didn’t even realize the playoff rules were different in overtime,” Juszczyk said. “I assumed you just wanted the ball to score a touchdown and win. I guess that’s not the case. I don’t really know the strategy there… We hadn’t talked about it, No.”
Shanahan said he has discussed a possible extension with the analytics team, but it appears those discussions have not reached all players.
Even though a touchdown ended the game, the 49ers didn’t do enough to get into the end zone on their first and only OT drive. The drive ended with a 27-yard field goal from Jake Moody to give the 49ers a 22-19 lead. The field goal meant a touchdown by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense would be a victory for Kansas City.
In big-time scenarios, Mahomes is usually clutch, and Sunday night was no exception. Mecole Hardman scored a touchdown on the Chiefs’ drive to give the team its second Super Bowl in two years.
The Chiefs players also seemed to know the rules well, which was very different from what was happening on the other sideline. Kansas City safety Justin Reid said the team began looking at the new extension rules as early as training camp, via The Ringer.
Defensive lineman Chris Jones said the team has a plan in place if the game deserves more time. “We talked about it for two weeks,” Jones said. “How were we going to get the ball to the opponent? if they scored, we were going to score two at the end of the game. We rehearsed it.”
Below is a complete overview of the NFL overtime rules:
- The captain who lost the first toss in overtime will choose to either possess the ball or select the goal his team will defend, unless the team that won the toss has deferred this choice.
- Each team will have the opportunity to possess the ball in overtime.
- Each team has three timeouts during a half.
- The same timing rules that apply at the end of the second and fourth regulation periods also apply at the end of a second or fourth additional period.
- If there is still no winner at the end of a fourth overtime period, there will be another drawing and play will continue until a winner is declared.
