What the Titans Can Learn from the Kansas City Chiefs’ Win vs. the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII
Nashville Super Bowls teach us a lot of things, particularly in cases like this one—the Kansas City Chiefs’ thrilling overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans will have knowledge to impart to his group. Only Patrick Mahomes has the potential to be the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Still, he required assistance. The winners were able to stay in the game despite it appearing like they might lose thanks to a strong Chiefs defense and a costly Niners turnover.
The Chiefs demonstrated that there are numerous ways to win, while the Titans have a quarterback-in-training in Will Levis, who has new coaches ready to further his education. In reviewing instructional moments, let’s begin near the end of Super Bowl LVIII, during the overtime period. RECOGNIZE THE RULES Following their victory, Mahomes disclosed that the Kansas City Chiefs had discussed the postseason overtime regulations so frequently that he was on the verge of losing interest in hearing about them. During training camp, they went over the rules to make sure everyone understood them in case they ever had an overtime playoff game.
Some 49ers players have reportedly admitted to being ignorant of the new 2022 rules, which state that both teams may possess the ball offensively during the playoffs as long as the first possession doesn’t result in a defensive score. Had the 49ers been more prepared, maybe they would have decided to kick off after winning the coin toss rather than receiving the ball. Knowing they could win with a touchdown or tie the game with a field goal helped the Chiefs.
The Chiefs’ All-Pro defensive lineman, Chris Jones, stated that the team was ready to “go for two” if the Niners scored on their next overtime possession after they had taken a seven-point lead with a touchdown on their first possession. SPECIAL TEAMS MATTERS: Until something goes horribly wrong or horribly well, special teams are taken for granted.
Harrison Butker, the kicker for the Chiefs, made all four of his field goals, including a 57-yarder in the third quarter that broke the mark held by 49ers kicker Jake Moody for approximately an hour. Mood finished the game with three field goals out of three, but one of his efforts at an extra point was stopped in the fourth quarter, which let Kansas City stay within three points.
In the end, the Chiefs would force overtime with a field goal. The Chiefs, who were having trouble breaking through the Niners’ defense, got lucky in the third quarter when one of their punts struck the foot of a San Francisco blocker. After one play, Patrick Mahomes connected with Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a touchdown, extending the lead to 13-10. Defense buys offense time. In the first half, the 49ers controlled the line of scrimmage.
Their defense, which features Pro Bowlers Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Fred Warner, and Charvarius Ward, gave Chiefs All-Pro Patrick Mahomes little time to consider, while their offensive line kept Brock Purdy clean. San Francisco had Kansas City on the ropes on the Chiefs’ first drive of the second half when the Niners’ pass rush forced Mahomes into an interception. Before Mahomes and the Chiefs were able to settle into a rhythm, the Chiefs defense increased the pressure on Purdy. Critical blitzes kept the Chiefs in close proximity.
All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie blitzed off the left side and deflected a pass to force fourth down on the 49ers’ last drive of regulation. To force overtime, the Chiefs would match the field goal that the Niners settled for. The Niners had third-and-4 at KC’s 9-yard line during the overtime period. Chris Jones, a defensive standout, charged up the middle, and Purdy mishandled the ball. The aggression forced incompletions, stopped touchdowns, and limited San Francisco to field goal attempts.
