Unlike 49ers players, Drue Tranquill discloses how the Chiefs were completely aware of Super B

Super Bowl LVIII marked the debut of the new overtime rules in NFL playoff games, which were changed several years prior. The new overtime rules are straightforward: regardless of whether a team scores a touchdown on the first possession or not, both teams get possession of the ball.

The Super Bowl ended in a Kansas City Chiefs’ victory. That was mainly because they knew what to do after the end of regulation. The San Francisco 49ers, on the other hand, weren’t aware of the rules and that ended up causing their downfall.

Despite the new overtime regulations being in effect for two years, San Francisco players acknowledged that they were unaware of them. In overtime, the 49ers chose to take the ball first, which was made worse by the fact that at least a few of Kyle Shanahan‘s players were unaware of the procedure in the event that the 49ers scored. Going first wasn’t the best course of action because both teams had possession of the ball in overtime.

Head coach Andy Reid made sure his team was aware of the new overtime regulations during the playoffs, so Kansas City was undoubtedly ready for them. He was aware that an overtime match was always a possibility. LB Drue Tranquill revealed that Reid made sure they knew what the overtime rules were. Tranquill said:

We had an OT rules presentation and strategy meeting every week of the playoffs & twice in our Super Bowl prep. 

Drue Tranquill said

The 49ers ought to have put pressure on Patrick Mahomes to score a touchdown first with him on the other sideline, leaving Reid to decide whether to go for two afterwards. San Francisco not knowing the OT rules essentially decided the game as the Chiefs scored a touchdown to win the game.

Multiple San Francisco 49ers players did not know the playoff overtime rule

The San Francisco 49ers lost the Super Bowl in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. That should be alright, winning and losing are part of sport. The Chiefs were the better team when it mattered and got the W. However, what’s not acceptable is the fact the multiple Niners players were unaware of the new overtime rules.

Veteran players such as Kyle Juszczyk and Arik Armstead admitted to not knowing the new OT rules, despite being in practice for the past few years. Juszczyk admitted:

You know what? I didn’t even realize the playoff rules were different in overtime.

Kyle Juszczyk said

Armstead on the other hand, got to know about the rules through the stadium’s scoreboard. He said:

They put it on the scoreboard, and everyone was like ‘Oh, even if you score, they get a chance still.'

Arik Armstead said

It was only the second Super Bowl in history to feature overtime, and Sunday’s game was the first to use the new overtime rules. In March 2022, after the contentious Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills game in the divisional round of that season, the new playoff overtime rule was implemented.

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