In lead up to Super Bowl LIV, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan discussed repeatedly the lessons learned from blowing a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl 51 against the New England Patriots when he was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.
But now, after the Chiefs’ 31-20 win Sunday, Shanahan is again taking heat for his team gave up a 20-10 lead in the fourth quarter.
In NFL history, there have been three teams that blew a double-digit lead in the fourth — and Shanahan has now been a part of two of them, according to ESPN Stats and Information.
There have been 3 teams in Super Bowl history to lose a 10-point 4th quarter lead. Kyle Shanahan called the offensive plays for 2 of them.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 3, 2020
After the 10-minute mark in the 4th quarter, Shanahan’s teams were outscored a combined 46-0 (including OT of Super Bowl LI). pic.twitter.com/j1a5cGXTKu
Against the Chiefs, Shanahan was especially criticized for a lack of aggression before the end of the first half. He elected to not use a timeout when San Francisco made a stop on fourth down, letting precious seconds tick away. Shanahan also took a conservative approach on the team’s offensive drive, happy to take a 10-10 tie into the locker room.
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Speaking to reporters afterward, Shanahan said he worried about giving the ball back to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Per NESN:
“We did consider (calling a timeout), but where we got the ball and the fact that it was 10 to 10, that they had three timeouts,” Shanahan said. “If we would have gotten an explosive run on the first one, we would have. I want to say we got a 4-yard run. So, we let the clock run a little to get it down. But no, we were good with that situation, very good, we’d do that every single time especially with us starting with the ball in the third quarter and once we realized we did get a first, then we did take our shot. We would have got points from that, but we got an unfortunate penalty. …
“The last thing we’re going to do there is allow them to get the ball with three timeouts left, especially with their quarterback and the offensive speed and go down and score before half.
Despite his explanation, critics piled on Shanahan:
In the end, Jimmy G couldn’t get it done. But the real culprit here is Kyle SHANAHAN. From being the Off. Coordinator with a 28-3 lead in 2016, then the head coach for this Super Bowl, he went away from the run & has been outscored 46-0 in both 4th QT’s & OT.#Facts
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) February 3, 2020
Kyle Shanahan at the start of Super Bowls vs. Kyle Shanahan in the fourth quarter pic.twitter.com/W0jnljySJq
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 3, 2020
Can someone ask Kyle Shanahan why he didn’t want to score points at the end of the first half
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) February 3, 2020
I didn’t condemn Kyle Shanahan for blowing the 28-3 Super Bowl lead to Brady. But now he will be viewed as having blown TWO Super Bowls, and for this one he deserves the blame. Up 20-10 with the ball, running unstoppably. Just inexcusable.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 3, 2020
*Kyle Shanahan blows 28-3 lead in #SuperBowl LI*
— BetOnline.ag (@betonline_ag) February 3, 2020
Kyle Shanahan with a 10 point lead in #SuperBowl LIV: pic.twitter.com/x8J2uzW7el
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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