# NFL 2023-2024: Super Bowl 58 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [February 4, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095 "2024-02-04T16:14:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/321 "2024-02-12T17:00:56Z")
Sorry I got it mixed up. I didn’t, and still don’t really follow football, I just r emember being amazed at the kick. It stuck all these years. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/322 "2024-02-12T17:15:41Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It is absolutely, one hundred percent social media that has done this. No, it is the mindless idiots themselves, who uncritically swallow anything and everything weird that they hear.[/ot] The one thing which bugged me tho was Kelce deliberately knocking his own coach over. Absolutely appalling. Apparently Reid considers it a nothingburger tho, says he caught him off-balance. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/323 "2024-02-12T17:19:50Z")
dempsey was an amazing player. that kick you saw, baker, that kick was top of the record books for 40 years. you saw and remembered a kick for the ages. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/324 "2024-02-12T17:23:34Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > The one thing which bugged me tho was Kelce deliberately knocking his own coach over. Absolutely appalling. Apparently Reid considers it a nothingburger tho, says he caught him off-balance. Come on, he didn’t knock Reid over. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/325 "2024-02-12T17:24:07Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > The one thing which bugged me tho was Kelce deliberately knocking his own coach over. Absolutely appalling. Apparently Reid considers it a nothingburger tho, says he caught him off-balance. Yeah, I woke up thinking, “Come on Taylor, you can do better than this raging prick who verbally and practically physically assaults an old man on international TV just cuz he didn’t get his way.” ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/326 "2024-02-12T17:38:58Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > > [@Hamlet](#): > > > > Had the Niners not continuously shot themselves in the foot, lose one of their best defensive players, and inexplicably not use their best offensive player for parts of the game, there never would have been an overtime. > > Oh, please. Please what? Why are you so angry? We seem to be saying the same thing: there are a ton of variables that go into a football game that help determine the ultimate outcome. Saying that Mahomes’ greatness could not be denied ignores that multitude of variables. That was my point. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/327 "2024-02-12T18:46:27Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > It’s now a game of “first team to score wins” - and the 49ers are kicking off. As I pointed out in post #284 or thereabouts, that’s exactly what Coach Shanahan said when asked why he chose to receive. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/328 "2024-02-12T18:57:53Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > We seem to be saying the same thing: there are a ton of variables that go into a football game that help determine the ultimate outcome. Saying that Mahomes’ greatness could not be denied ignores that multitude of variables. I guess that I misunderstood your post, and for that, I apologize. The original point made by @Bullitt was that Mahomes was great when it mattered, and you seemed to say that if he was great, he should have been great for 5 quarters, not just the 4th quarter and overtime. Many ‘great’ players are called great largely because of their performances in the clutch, like Joe Montana and Michael Jordan. Nobody plays flawlessly for every minute of every game, but the great players perform at a higher level when it matters. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/329 "2024-02-12T19:14:55Z")
Ok, that’s a reasonable way of looking at it, but the players didn’t decide to receive, Shanahan did. So it doesn’t matter what the players thought the rules were, they just had to execute Shanahan’s instructions. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/330 "2024-02-12T19:37:59Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > but the players didn’t decide to receive, Shanahan did. Yes, that point has been established. But the fact remains that several SF players did not know the playoff overtime rules, which, in my mind, is inexcusable and a direct fault of the coaching staff. Maybe if they had known, they might have tried to talk Shanahan out of taking the ball first. As a Chiefs fan, I was very happy when they chose to receive. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/331 "2024-02-12T19:42:24Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Social media is killing society. I mean that absolutely sincerely. > > 30 years ago “the NFL is rigged,” an accusation that makes no sense whatsoever, would have been restricted to people living on the streets or with corkboards in their basements covered in strings and newspaper clippings. Now millions seem to believe it. It is absolutely, one hundred percent social media that has done this. But…but…the NFL is rigged! Vegas casinos stood to lose millions if the Chiefs won! They - hold on…what? The Chiefs won? Punt deflected off a 49ers player’s ankle? Extra point blocked? Three players pretty much carted off at various points in the game? Wait a minute - let me get my other script… But… but…the NFL is rigged! What better way to get more people involved - especially women - than the whole Taylor Swift angle? And now she’ll be plugging the product everywhere! ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/332 "2024-02-12T19:46:12Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Nobody plays flawlessly for every minute of every game, but the great players perform at a higher level when it matters. I think the “when it matters” trope is our biggest sticking point. It completely ignores 60 minutes of football, in favor of one sparkling drive to tie everything up with a little bow for public consumption. But we only got to yesterday’s “when it matters” because the Niners were unable to take advantage of 3 quarters of not great football by the Chiefs. I am not saying that Mahomes isn’t great, or that his play wasn’t a big reason the Chiefs won. But had the Chiefs played like they played yesterday against a team that didn’t fumble twice, take themselves out of plays with penalties, and some questionable coaching calls, I think they lose. Neither team was impressive yesterday. The defenses were very good, especially the Chiefs’ adjustments in the second half. I’m just ot a huge believer in the whole “when it matters” trope. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/333 "2024-02-12T19:53:02Z")
> [@Guapo](#): > > > [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > > > What was up with Tony Romo and his love of the word “leverage”? > > What does that even mean? I hate when they use new words for the same old thing: “tackle in space” instead of “open field tackle”, “years of age” instead of “years old”. It’s very simple. The team was just trying to shift the momentum with some north-south running while the receivers were going vertical. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/334 "2024-02-12T19:56:54Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The team was just trying to shift the momentum with some north-south running while the receivers were going vertical. Oh when will the NFL finally get around to banning antigravity belts? So much for emphasizing player safety! ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/335 "2024-02-12T19:59:28Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > What was up with Tony Romo and his love of the word “leverage”? Was there a prop bet for how many times he would say it? Here’s a decent primer on it. > **[WR Stem Drills To Access Leverage | X&O Labs](https://www.xandolabs.com/the-lab/position-groups/wide-receivers/pass-game-mechanics-wide-receivers/wr-stem-drills-to-access-leverage/)** In particular Travis Kelce, as a TE, is excellent at gaining an advantageous position when running his routes. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/336 "2024-02-12T20:14:55Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > But the fact remains that several SF players did not know the playoff overtime rules, which, in my mind, is inexcusable and a direct fault of the coaching staff. These are adult professionals, they should at least care enough about their craft to understand the basic rules of the game. > [@Railer13](#): > > talk Shanahan out of taking the ball first No way the players are talking the head coach out of his strategic choices. He didn’t make the choice out of a failure to understand the rules, he was making a very specific choice with the full understanding that what did unfold was a distinct possibility. I personally agree that getting the ball second is the right choice, I think the ability to play 4 down ball with a clear view of what you need to win is more valuable than getting the ball first in sudden death. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/337 "2024-02-12T20:18:47Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I think the ability to play 4 down ball with a clear view of what you need to win is more valuable than getting the ball first in sudden death. If it were truly sudden death, getting the ball first would be a huge advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/338 "2024-02-12T20:28:00Z")
As someone who is indifferent about the Niners and the Chiefs, I thought it was a very entertaining Super Bowl. I know the lack of big scoring plays and abundance of punts is usually seen as a downside, but I love defensive games. Sure there were some mistakes, but there were a lot of excellent defensive plays for both teams. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > These are adult professionals, they should at least care enough about their craft to understand the basic rules of the game. Agreed! This is a pet peeve of mine. Why do they even bother publicizing when players don’t know the rules of OT? We hear the same nonsense whenever a regular season game ends in a tie. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/339 "2024-02-12T20:35:38Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > If it were truly sudden death It does become sudden death, but only if the first possessions of the OT ends in a tie, 0-0, 3-3 or 7-7. Shanahan made his choice based on the advantage his team would get in the event of a second tie. It’s not a terrible decision, necessarily, it’s just not the one I prefer. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2024, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095/340 "2024-02-12T20:38:04Z")
I wish they would stick with one set of OT rules for the long run. Between the NFL and college, and regular changes to the rule, it’s hard to keep it all straight as you’re watching it. Throw a few beers into the mix and all the mental math required to see what you need to win your square, and it’s damn near painful to figure it all out! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-super-bowl-58/997095.md?page=18)