There has been some debate since Monday night whether or not, at the end of the game between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, head coach Kyle Shanahan should have played for the tie, rather than the win.
The 49ers received the ball on their own 20-yard line with 1:50 left in overtime. With Seattle lacking any timeouts, San Francisco simply could have run out the clock and ended the game, remaining undefeated.
Of course, we would have all had to stare at that 'dash-one' at the end of their record for the remainder of the season. The absurdity, in my opinion, of a football game ending in a tie is a discussion for another time.
What would have happened had San Francisco simply run out the clock is that the 49ers would be 8-0-1 and maintained a more significant lead over teams like the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, and yes, even the Seahawks, all of which are breathing down their necks.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo spoke with reporters on Wednesday and, while disappointed in the loss, has no regrets about playing for the win.
"It's tough," Garoppolo said. "You've got to trust the coaches, Kyle, and their decision-making with it. Whatever they decide, they're doing what's best for the team. So, as players, you just go out there and execute it. Whatever they decide, we'll back them 100 percent on it."
Just for clarification, Garoppolo was asked, "But you want to win, right?"
"Absolutely," he responded. "It's hard to play for a tie. I don't know if I've ever done that before, and I'm glad we went for the win."
