After losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, players for the San Francisco 49ers said they
were unaware of the new overtime regulations. Patrick Mahomes won Super Bowl MVP for the third time in his
career after leading the Chiefs to a third ring in five seasons.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes masterfully led his team to a 25-22 victory in Las Vegas with a stellar overtime
performance.
In a rematch of Super Bowl LIV, in which the 49ers had given up a 10-point lead against the Chiefs in the fourth
quarter, the team failed to build on an early 10-0 lead until Harrison Butker of Kansas City kicked the game-tying
field goal with three seconds remaining in regulation.
The game on Sunday was the first to use the new overtime rules, which allow both teams to have control of the ball
with the exception of a safety during the first drive in overtime. Under the previous rules, a touchdown on the first
possession would result in the game being ended.
On the opening drive of overtime, the 49ers were only able to muster a field goal, which allowed Mahomes to march
downfield and secure a third Super Bowl ring with a touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman.
“I didn’t even know about the new playoff overtime rule, so it was a surprise to me,” said 49ers defensive lineman
Arik Armstead. “I didn’t even really know what was going on in terms of that.
The 49ers appeared to have been less aware of the new regulations, while Chiefs safety Justin Reid pointed out that
the club had talked about them at an early training camp.
“What do you know? Kyle Juszczyk, a fullback for the Niners, remarked, “I didn’t even realize the playoff rules were
different in overtime.” I’m assuming that all you want is for the ball to go for a touchdown and win.
That must not be the case. I’m not really sure what the plan is there. No, we hadn’t discussed it.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan, who was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons that lost to the Chiefs with
San Francisco at the end of the 2019 season after blowing a 25-point lead against the New England Patriots,
continues to wait for his first Super Bowl ring after this defeat.