How in the world is this possible? San Fran 49ers average 6.4 yards per carry yet lose Super Bowl

No, there are no football experts here.

I thought Shanahan was too conservative against the Pats in the 2nd half and wasn't conservative enough in this 2nd half. You are up 10, pound the damn rock.

horrible play calling from the coach, sub par execution from the QB.

oh, and something about the refs

#truth

It was payback for Kaepernick.

?

Your Dallas Cowboys averaged 8 yards per pass attempt (#1 in league) in 2019 so why don’t they just pass it every time?

Hell cowboys averaged 4.8 per rush . Why not just run every time and get a first down?

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/yards-per-pass-attempt

I told you, there are no football experts here.

It’s hard to drive the length of the field by runs. SF strength is running wide. KC was selling out wide.

So, if anything, what you want is for SF to hit A gap (straight ahead) x3 and live or die. Which is easy in hindsight. An A+ signal caller would have done that to your point.

Garappolo actually played well first half. Had a stunning 40yd throw before half that got called back. So, to continue play action made sense. But in 2nd half, pressure got to him. Shanahan needed to roll him out or Garappolo needed to feel and run away from pressure. (KC was running Mahomes away from Bosa on crucial 3rd downs).

SF was up 10. Honey badger, safety, went to KC sideline and gave them an earful. That was the game. KC D held rest of game going on emotion. Momentum shifted. Mahomes, best qb ever, woke up. Game over.

Grats Reid. & 24 year old Mahomes the Great

What was their average in the second half? It only takes a few negative plays or short gains to disrupt a drive. Then KC gets the ball and eventually will hit a 40 yarder, which they did, and you are playing from behind.

I think there was a false start at midfield that forced a pass from SF - that went incomplete. Then, KC scores a TD.

If that penalty was not called, rojo is probably right and they run.

A guy who pretends to know the game. Just like most of LRC. I want to hear from Precious, Guru and Benevolent Dictator before I decide.

Jamaal Charles averaged 5.4 yards per carry for an entire career. Why didn't he get the ball every play?

With KC selling out wide Run and Barreling to qb on pass.

SF should have gone designed qb delay run OR

Fake hand off opposite side roll out pass.

Either of those two would have broken KC D.

1ub2run wrote:

I think there was a false start at midfield that forced a pass from SF - that went incomplete. Then, KC scores a TD.

Exactly. You get a negative play and then the run average just won't cut it.

Say you get five 9 yard runs in a row, then another 9 yard run followed by two 0 yard runs. You averaged 6.75 yards a run but still had to punt.

San Francisco 49ers were not able to run the ball as easily tonight as they did versus Green Bay a couple of weeks ago. The defensive formations the Chiefs were in made the passing game appear suitable. Eight in box with single high safety.

Arrowhead Pride wrote:

What was their average in the second half? It only takes a few negative plays or short gains to disrupt a drive. Then KC gets the ball and eventually will hit a 40 yarder, which they did, and you are playing from behind.

You are correct. That's why while a good running game helps, ultimately it seems like you have to pass to win in the NFL.

SOmeone asked for the 2nd half stast. I just went play by play. Here are their 2nd half runs.

14, 4, 0, 2, 1 (TD), 6, 1, 3 (qb running after protection breaks down), 5 yards, 17,

So ignoring the QB "run" and let's ignore the 1 yard td, they had 8 carries for 49 yards. So that's 6.1 yards per carry. But you can see by that above, I guess I answered my question. I think if they ran every play they would have been stopped unless they went for it a ton on 4th down.

I think a false start also hurt them right before 2 minute warning. I think I might have run again when it was 2nd and 7 with 1:56 left. I remember thinking, "Passes are getting batted down. Run and set up 3rd and 3."

Unless I made a mistake I don't think they ever ran on 1st and 2nd down in 2nd half.

Here is the play by play for the full game.

I think Mahomes greatest attribute is to roll away from D’s best pass rusher & then throw 40-50 yd downfield in the opposite direction - on a rope. No safety on the planet is going to sprint the opposite direction the qb is running.

It’s saved them all year.

I apologize there are two who know the game, Rojo and his army.

disneydate wrote:

I thought Shanahan was too conservative against the Pats in the 2nd half and wasn't conservative enough in this 2nd half. You are up 10, pound the damn rock.

Letting the clock run down just before half time and losing a scoring opportunity was the death nail. It made no sense and in the Super Bowl you just can’t piss away opportunity like that - saving the time outs for what? It was nonsensical. I’m ok with people putting that loss squarely on the shoulders of Shanahan.

KC's receivers are so fast that if Mahomes finds or creates enough time they can break open against whoever is covering them and he has the arm to get it to them wherever they are. KC started taking away the run, yet still generated enough pressure on Garappollo to make him uncomfortable and his throws difficult. I thought SF's offensive line got badly outplayed for most of the game, especially on pass plays.