Shanahan defends not calling 1st-half timeout: I'd do it 'every single time'
The San Francisco 49ers' clock management and play-calling in Super Bowl LIV were questioned during and after their 31-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan opted not to call one of his three remaining timeouts with 1:53 left in the second quarter following a Chiefs third down. Instead, the 49ers received the ball back with 59 seconds remaining.
Following the loss, Shanahan stood by his decision and said he didn't want Kansas City to receive the ball with significant time left in the first half.
"They had three timeouts. It was 10-10," Shanahan said, according to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic. "The last thing I wanted to do is allow them to get the ball with three timeouts, especially with their quarterback and offensive speed, to go in there and score before the half. Felt real good 10-10 with us starting (the second half) with the ball. Thought it played out all right. …
"We were good with that situation. Very good. I would do that every single time, especially with us starting with the ball in the third quarter. Once we realized we did get the first (down), we did take the shot. We would've got points. But we got that unfortunate penalty."
With 14 seconds left in the half, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed a 42-yard pass to tight end George Kittle to put the 49ers in field-goal range. However, it was called back after an offensive pass interference call. San Francisco kneeled on the next play to run out the clock.
In the fourth quarter, the 49ers received the ball back with 6:06 remaining, still leading 20-17 after a Chiefs touchdown.
San Francisco ran the ball and then called two pass plays that ended in incompletions, resulting in a punt back to Kansas City with 5:30 on the clock. Patrick Mahomes then led a touchdown drive to give the Chiefs a lead they wouldn't surrender.
But Shanahan doesn't regret not calling more run plays, which would have eaten up more time.
"Last thing you're thinking about when you're up three points and there's that much time left," he said. "Clock's not an issue at that time, especially with the timeouts left. The issue is moving the chains. If you move the chains, then you will move the clock."
The 49ers amassed 141 yards on 22 rushing attempts Sunday (6.4 yards per carry) and converted three of their eight third-down attempts.