Quote:
Originally Posted by thehef
As described in Wetzel's article - https://sports.yahoo.com/how-kyle-sh...160726090.html - Shanahan had a reason for wanting the ball first - and it wasn't because of a tired defense or misunderstanding the new OT rules: He wanted the ball third to go for the sudden death win in case both teams did the same thing - punt, FG, or TD - on their opening possessions.
Is it fair to criticize going for an advantage that is far from guaranteed to happen? Probably. But it's also fair to point out that had that not unlikely scenario unfolded and SF had gone on to win by scoring on that 3rd possession, Shanahan would've surely been hailed for making a gutsy call...
And giving the ball to Mahomes first and, potentially, third evokes - under the new OT rules - memories of the Chiefs/Bills shootout a few years ago, where Mahomes getting the ball 3rd yesterday would be like him getting the ball first in that game against the Bills... In that scenario, Shanahan would be open to the criticism of that choice if the OT had played out as KC TD, 9er TD, KC TD: "Shanahan's OT Blunder - Giving Mahomes the Ball Twice." |
He wanted the ball 3rd? Here's what he wasn't considering. He may never have gotten the ball 3rd.
If the 49ers go down and get a TD, then the Chiefs match, who says the Chiefs won't go for two? That might be their only chance to win. Otherwise they'd have to hold the 49ers from getting a FG.
If you were the 49ers coach and the Chiefs scored 7 first, then you matched, would you kickoff to Mahomes? Or go for 2? I know I would go for 2.