The result of a game is always a sum of multiple parts, but it’s hard not to recall one particular moment in the 49ers’ loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl 58.
The momentum of the game changed when Kansas City recovered a muffed punt in San Francisco territory, setting up Patrick Mahomes to throw a 16-yard touchdown to Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the ensuing play to take its first lead of the game, 13-10.
The 49ers needed a response and Brock Purdy delivered, driving his team down the field before finding Jauan Jennings for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to regain the lead, 16-13. 49ers kicker Jake Moody trotted out onto the field to kick the extra point, looking to give San Francisco a crucial four-point lead to put the pressure on the Chiefs.
Extra points are often overlooked and viewed as “chip shots” for professional kickers. When they aren’t converted, it can cost you a football game, and the 49ers learned that the hard way.
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Jake Moody’s blocked extra point: What went wrong on 49ers’ pivotal play in Super Bowl 58?
Following Jennings’ touchdown, Moody lined up for an extra point to give the 49ers a four-point lead with 11:22 to play in the fourth quarter.
The snap was good, the hold was good, but the blocking was not, leading to the blocked kick.
moody blocked extra point #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/iMfBq2qy66
— ◇ (@2MANYBRIDGES) February 12, 2024
Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal broke through the 49ers’ field goal protection, getting a hand on the ball to keep Kansas City within a field goal. The mistake proved to be costly for San Francisco and, in a way, even spoiled a shot at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
The Chiefs were forced to settle for a field goal on the following drive, but instead of putting them down by one, three points tied the game because of the blocked extra point.
Moody made up for his mistake by burying a 53-yard field goal to give the 49ers a 19-16 lead with 1:53 to play — his second 50-yarder of the game — but Kansas City still only needed to respond with a field goal of its own to force overtime.
Mahomes did what Mahomes does, cruising the Chiefs into field-goal range to set up Harrison Butker for a game-tying 29-yarder, sending the game into overtime.
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Moody knocked in a 27-yard field goal on the 49ers’ first drive of overtime, but Kansas City responded with a touchdown to secure a Super Bowl victory.
If Moody’s extra point in the fourth quarter wasn’t blocked, the game may have never gone into overtime in the first place. A make would have forced Kansas City to find the end zone to take a lead, instead of trading field goals to force overtime.
Moody’s blocked extra point was a lone blemish on an otherwise impressive night. The rookie kicker’s 55-yard field goal was the longest in Super Bowl history (until Harrison Butker buried a 57-yarder one quarter later).
Moody went three-for-three on field goals with makes from 55, 53, and 27 yards and one-for-two on extra points — the blocked kick being the difference in the Super Bowl.
