In a heart-wrenching Super Bowl LVIII showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers etched their name in history, albeit for the wrong reasons. The 49ers, vying for their sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy, experienced a devastating loss in overtime at Allegiant Stadium on February 11.
San Francisco held a 16-13 lead against the Chiefs with 11:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. They once again led 19-16 with 1:53 left in the same quarter, only to witness the Chiefs leveling the score with game-tying field goals on both ensuing drives. Despite taking a 22-19 lead in overtime, the 49ers succumbed to the Chiefs’ eventual game-winning touchdown.
This collapse etched a somber entry into NFL history books, marking the first instance of a team losing after leading twice in the fourth quarter and once in overtime, as reported by Sportradar.
Much debate surrounds 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s decision to take possession of the ball on the opening drive in overtime. While some criticize the move, certain analytics experts acknowledge they might have made a similar choice.
The 49ers had ample opportunities to secure victory late in the game, but their inability to capitalize resulted in a historic and unprecedented loss in the annals of NFL history.
