OT Coin Toss = 49'ers Demise? (1 Viewer)

[Artifactual]

Not anymore, I made that same assumption before realizing the rule had changed. Both opponents are guaranteed at least one offensive possession in OT now. It's never happened, but I guess in theory, an offense could chew up the entire OT period in one possession. That's the only reason I can think of not to defer.

This became a new rule this year for postseason games. As the ref explained at midfield they were starting a new game with both teams getting at least one possession unless there was a defensive score on a turnover on the first teams possession. Had the first overtime period expired they would have reversed field direction and started a new quarter. The game would not have ended in a tie. Once both teams had a possession they would have played until one of the two teams scored no matter how long it took.

 

[SaintsMan209]

It's interesting to me how critical 49er fans are of their team but they honestly played a great game and would have beaten every other team that day. The chiefs were a bit unstoppable so I don't think it was any one or two decisins that cost the 49ers the game. They had really bad luck with Dre Greenlaw going down on a fluke injury and even Deebo Samuels struggling. They played a great game and barely lost.

 

[Artifactual]

I mean... I take the ball.. eat the clock, and give them 2 minutes to score. It isn't a horrible strategy to take the ball first. This is just something to pile on for because it didn't work out.. If Ambush doesn't work... they talk about that failure non stop when we lose.

Get up to speed on the complete rule. For one, that ticking clock you saw in overtime was just the first of what could have been several overtime periods had neither team scored in the first one.

 

[Lendro Furioso]

In my opinion, the game was lost when they came out of the two-minutes warning. 3rd and 4, and if they get it they nearly run out the clock. From then on the inevitability of Mahomes became a thing, and it felt to me that the Niners felt the pressure, both the players and the playcaller.

I’m fine with getting the ball first: Shanahan probably trusted his team to go down and score, and if the Chiefs match you get the ball to win the game. As others have mentioned, the defense also needed a breather.

 

[Plow]

Statistical analysis, analytics, is a useful tool, but coaches shouldn't be subservient to it. Payton has said as much and he's a big analytics guy. Human beings defy statistical odds all the time, including in football and for better and worse.

The Saints had over a 90% chance of beating Green Bay in the second half according to analytics. How useful or accurately predictive were those odds?

Agreed. If all decisions were determined by analytics, might as well replace coaches with AI.

We may see changes that were never anticipated, now that pandora's box has been forever opened...

 

[DaveXA]

This became a new rule this year for postseason games. As the ref explained at midfield they were starting a new game with both teams getting at least one possession unless there was a defensive score on a turnover on the first teams possession. Had the first overtime period expired they would have reversed field direction and started a new quarter. The game would not have ended in a tie. Once both teams had a possession they would have played until one of the two teams scored no matter how long it took.

As I understand it, that's not actually correct. The entirety of the OT period is treated like the end of the half or end of regulation. They would start the 2nd OT exactly like the first OT except I think they switch to whoever lost the coin flip in the first OT. Maybe the rules change that, but I'm pretty sure that's how it was previously.

 

[Saint Spud]

It was probably the wrong decision.

But when Mahomes is on the other side, there aren’t any real right decisions

 

[ilvdsnts]

As they said...
The only way the game ends on the 1st possession is via defensive touchdown.

No, not defensive TD, defensive score. A safety ends it as well.

 

[ilvdsnts]

Was going to make a separate thread, but I don’t like making threads so will just add to this one.

I wasn’t sure of the OT rules either evidently. I thought they were the same as regular season with the one exception that it couldn’t end in a tie. That’s not even close to true.

I think both coaches played it wrong at the end. Shanahan should’ve been burning timeouts to try and get the ball back if the chiefs scored a fg.

Reid should’ve taken a timeout with enough time to run 3 plays at the end. If by chance, the time would’ve ran out before the Chiefs scored, which was very possible if the winning play doesn’t work and they don’t score on the next play, then even with a TD on 3rd down, the Chiefs would’ve been forced to play another entire 10 minute quarter.

First of all they played a 15 min qtr., not 10. Second, they would've just continued their drive in the 2nd OT period just like moving from the 1st to 2nd qtr or 3rd to 4th.

 

[ilvdsnts]

I mean... I take the ball.. eat the clock, and give them 2 minutes to score. It isn't a horrible strategy to take the ball first. This is just something to pile on for because it didn't work out.. If Ambush doesn't work... they talk about that failure non stop when we lose.

They wouldn't have 2 minutes to score, they would just continue the drive into the next period.

 

[ilvdsnts]

As I understand it, that's not actually correct. The entirety of the OT period is treated like the end of the half or end of regulation. They would start the 2nd OT exactly like the first OT except I think they switch to whoever lost the coin flip in the first OT. Maybe the rules change that, but I'm pretty sure that's how it was previously.

No, they said it over and over, even Vinovich said "We're starting a new game." Thats why there was no 2:00 warning for the OT period, because it was like any other 1st qtr.

 

[ThibodauxSaint]

Shanahan said his logic was that he wanted to be the one with the third possession when it changed to next score wins. Makes sense except for the fact that they didn't score a td on their first possession. Second the Chiefs said that if they the 9ers had scored a TD on the opening drive they would have went for 2 and the win if they scored a TD so there wouldn't have been a third possession for the 49ers anyway.

 

[Artifactual]

NFL Overtime Rules | NFL Football Operations

operations.nfl.com

OVERTIME RULES FOR NFL POSTSEASON GAMES​

Unlike regular season games, postseason games cannot end in a tie, so the overtime rules change slightly for the playoffs.

• If the score is still tied at the end of an overtime period — or if the second team’s initial possession has not ended — the teams will play another overtime period. Play will continue regardless of how many overtime periods are needed for a winner to be determined.
• There will be a two-minute intermission between each overtime period. There will not be a halftime intermission after the second period.
• The captain who lost the first overtime coin toss will either choose to possess the ball or select which goal his team will defend, unless the team that won the coin toss deferred that choice.
• Each team will have an opportunity to possess the ball in overtime.
• Each team gets three timeouts during a half.
• The same timing rules that apply at the end of the second and fourth regulation periods also apply at the end of a second or fourth overtime period.
• If there is still no winner at the end of a fourth overtime period, there will be another coin toss, and play will continue until a winner is declared.

2024 NFL overtime rules: How does it work? Regular season vs. playoffs | FOX Sports

Here's everything you need to know about the NFL's overtime rules including regular season and playoff differences.

www.foxsports.com

Playoff Overtime Rules​

How does it work, and can a playoff game end in a tie?​

Unlike regular-season games, which can end in a tie, postseason games can't.

Overtime rules in the postseason consist of as many 15-minute periods as are necessary until there is a winner, instead of the single 10-minute overtime period in the regular season. Both teams will now get at least one possession, even if the team that has the first possession scores a touchdown. If the team that got the ball first doesn't score a touchdown, or if the score is tied after each team has possessed the ball, the next score would end the game.

If the score is still tied at the end of an overtime period — or if the second team’s initial possession has not ended — the teams will play another overtime period. Play will continue regardless of how many overtime periods are needed for a winner to be determined.

If the team that possesses the ball first commits a safety on the initial possession, the kickoff team would win and the game would end there, which is also true in the regular season.

Other details to keep in mind:

• There are no coaches’ challenges in overtime. All replay reviews will be initiated by the replay official.
• Each team gets three timeouts during a half (two overtime periods), as opposed to two timeouts during overtime in the regular season.
• The intermission between the end of regular time and the first overtime period is no more than three minutes.
• There’s a two-minute intermission between each overtime period, but no halftime intermission after the second.
• At the beginning of the third overtime period, the captain who lost the first overtime coin toss will either choose to possess the ball or select which goal his team will defend, unless the team that won the coin toss deferred.
• If there’s still no winner at the end of a fourth overtime period, there will be another coin toss.

 

[GW93]

If the OT clock ran down to zero while the Chiefs were still in their drive, with San Fran up 22-19, what would have happened? Would the game have ended with the 49ers as winners, or would it have gone into a "6th quarter?"

 

[AARPSaint]

If the OT clock ran down to zero while the Chiefs were still in their drive, with San Fran up 22-19, what would have happened? Would the game have ended with the 49ers as winners, or would it have gone into a "6th quarter?"

If I understand it correctly, the drive would continue, just like a regular second quarter.