San Francisco 49ers were totally unaware of playoff overtime rules while Chiefs had weekly strategy meetings about OT

The San Francisco 49ers lost Super Bowl LVIII in excruciating fashion last night (or hilarious, depending on who you ask). With the game headed to overtime, the Niners won the toss and elected to receive, thinking that if they scored an opening touchdown.

The funny thing is, that’s not how overtime works in the playoffs. Not even close.

The 49ers had no idea that playoff overtime, unlike in the regular season, would allow both teams to touch the ball to decide the game. Meanwhile, the Chiefs were 100% locked in on the rule change:

Chiefs players said they discussed the playoff OT rules multiple times before the SB 😅 pic.twitter.com/VNdJYYFt5k

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 12, 2024

That’s what you get when you spend more time shit-talking and bitching and moaning about every little thing instead of, I don’t know, preparing for the Super Bowl. Football is a chess match, and not knowing a crucial rule like that before the biggest game of your life is unconscionable, especially from a supposed great coach like Kyle Shanahan.

To illustrate how clueless 49ers players were, Arik Armstead said he learned the details of the postseason rule when it was shown on the Allegiant Stadium jumbotron during a TV timeout after regulation. How does that happen???

Chris Jones of the Chiefs even said he thought the 49ers were “crazy” to elect to receive the OT kickoff. And he’s right, they were. I’m sure if they had any idea about that rule, they would have kicked off and had KC make the first move.

Unfortunately for the Niners, they improperly managed their mental energy, and foolishly focused more on past slights and calling out former foes. It was stupid all the way down, and it ended up costing them a championship.

It’s funny, all of that talking, and yet not a single meeting about the rules of the game. What a hilariously fatal blindspot that turned out to be.

Of course, praise will be heaped on Andy Reid for having his team prepared, and rightfully so. But equal, if not more, shame should be put on Kyle Shanahan for essentially failing the 49ers.

The players aren’t free from blame, either. Somehow every drunk moron at my Super Bowl party knew the rule. Maybe they thought they were too good to go to overtime against the best QB in the NFL because they had a glorified paper boy under center? Whatever the reason, it’s absolutely embarrassing.

Gear up in the TLL Shop