Error code: %{errorCode}

Football

San Francisco 49ers players confirm unawareness of NFL overtime rules

Tayyib Abu
San Francisco 49ers players confirm unawareness of NFL overtime rulesThearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Did the San Francisco 49ers make a mistake in overtime?

San Francisco 49ers star Kyle Juszczyk has admitted to not knowing the NFL's overtime rules. 

After Super Bowl 58 finished level, the game went into overtime. San Francisco won the toss and elected to receive the ball. 

Under the previous NFL overtime playoff rules, the game would be over if a team scored a touchdown after receiving the ball. 

However, the new rules allow both teams to possess the ball. Many analysts and pundits questioned why the 49ers chose to receive the ball. 

Speaking to the media after the game, Juszczyk said, "I assumed you just want the ball because you score a touchdown and win. I don't totally know the strategy there."

 

View post on Twitter

 

Head coach Kyle Shanahan offered his take on the situation, saying, "None of us have a ton of experience with [the new overtime rules]. But we went through all the analytics and talked to those guys. We just thought it would be better.

"We wanted the ball third. If both teams matched and scored, we wanted to be the ones who had the chance to win. So we got that field goal, so knew we had to hold them to at least a field goal, and if we did, we thought it was in our hands after that."

The controversy around the decision will undoubtedly rumble on as the NFL hits the offseason. 

Live on DAZN: Check your region for the Saudi Pro League on DAZN. Click here for details.

Watch on YouTube