LogFAQs > #978809963

Yeah, I think Shanahan's logic here is bad - just as I commented on it in real time. The team that gets the ball second just has every strategic advantage. They know what they need to do do on offense so they're in four down territory the whole way until they get where they need to go. And it falls apart when you realize that unless the 49ers score first and get the two-point conversion, the Chiefs have the option to proactively go for two and take away the opportunity for the sudden death to even matter.

The X-Factor is, and I don't know if a coach would ever admit it, is if they know their defense is just totally gassed and needs some time to recover and not to be put right back on the field if they kick it.