The San Francisco 49ers won the coin toss to begin the overtime period of Super Bowl LVIII and they chose to receive the ball first in the overtime period. But Kansas City Chiefs star defensive tackle does not think that was a good decision.
Given the new postseason overtime rules that allow both teams to have a possession even if the receiving team scores a touchdown on their first possession, Chris Jones said it was “crazy” of the 49ers to choose to receive the initial kickoff in overtime.
“They’re crazy. They’re crazy,” Jones said. “Because the overtime rules have changed where both teams get the ball, no matter who scores. So originally, you want to let the other team get the ball, stop them or hold them to three, so you know what you got. Or if you stop them, they punt it, then all you have to do is kick three.”
“They’re crazy” Chris Jones reaction to the 49ers electing to receive to start OT. #Chiefskingdom #SBLVIII pic.twitter.com/6Y3bFD4312
— 610SportsKC (@610SportsKC) February 12, 2024
Ultimately, it played out exactly as Jones said: the Chiefs were able to hold the Niners to a field goal and then the Kansas City offense was able to go down the field and win the game with a touchdown. Knowing they had to score to keep the game alive, they even benefitted from a fourth-down conversion when they otherwise likely would have punted.
“That’s the type of trust we have in each other. We get the ball to Andy [Reid], Pat [Mahomes] and [Trav], we always feels like there’s something they can do in any given moment,” Jones said. “And they did that.”
Obviously, these words from Jones led to a lot of reactions on social media.
Kyle Shanahan 2nd biggest blunder of the game. Electing to receive the ball in
In OT. https://t.co/Lfymtv7J1b— Michael Andrade (@n1njaturtle99) February 12, 2024
CJ giving Shanahan a game management lesson https://t.co/tSCdTEfyyn
— Jon Dykstra (@Jon_Dykstra) February 12, 2024
Yea I did not understand why they did that https://t.co/AkjeKI3lV6
— Meme the 🦄 (@_AverageJoaan) February 12, 2024
I’m just a guy. But to receive first and put all the pressure on your team? To give the defense a breather? Man. It made no sense. They acted like we weren’t getting the ball next.
— Flashy Hashira ✨ (@xFlashyHashira) February 12, 2024
Thought the exact same thing at that moment
— LOREN HAMMOND✌️🇺🇸🥇+LGB (Angela’s Brother)👼💔✝️ (@kc2mia2nash) February 12, 2024
literally busted out laughing when he said this because I thought the same thing. you want to give mahomes four downs? game over
— aubkc27 (a tortured poet) (@aubs_tv) February 12, 2024
It’s easy to second-guess in hindsight, but the Niners’ plan did not work out well.
