For most of Super Bowl LVII, it was a classic and entertaining back-and-forth affair. However, with just under two minutes to go in the game, opinions shifted following a questionable holding call on Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry.
On third down with 1:54 remaining and the game tied at 35, Bradberry was flagged for a hold on Kanas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, enabling a new set of downs and the ability to drain the clock for a Harrison Butker last-second game-winning field goal and a 38-35 win.
Had the call not been made, the Eagles would have had an opportunity for one final drive to either tie or win the game with almost a minute on the clock.
A few current and former Patriots shared their reactions to the call on Twitter.
Bro you can’t call that
— Adrian Phillips (@Phillips_17) February 13, 2023
You absolutely cannot make that call there
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) February 13, 2023
Tough Call
— JB (@NVBentley33) February 13, 2023
Terrible call! You can’t call that in the Super Bowl!! Let the kids play!!
— Davon Godchaux (@ChauxDown) February 13, 2023
What?!?!! Come on ref you really gonna throw a damn flag on that bs…
— Dont'a Hightower (@zeus30hightower) February 13, 2023
— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) February 13, 2023
That’s a bad call
— James White (@SweetFeet_White) February 13, 2023
Hate that call!!!!
— Drew Bledsoe (@DrewBledsoe) February 13, 2023
You can’t call that in the superbowl
— Ronnie Perkins™ (@7avageszn) February 13, 2023
Eagles definitely had opportunities to not be in that situation at the end of the game but it hurts to lose like that!
— James White (@SweetFeet_White) February 13, 2023
The story of the game is KC went crazy and couldn’t be stopped in the 2nd half but that was trash
— Adrian Phillips (@Phillips_17) February 13, 2023
During a postgame presser with the media, Bradberry acknowledged the hold was correct.
“It was a holding. I tugged (Smith-Schuster) jersey. I was hoping they would let it slide.”
In a pool report interview with the lead referee Carl Cheffers, he stated there was “a clear case of a jersey grab that caused restriction.” ?
Before the Bradberry hold, zero defensive holdings were called by Cheffer’s crew during the game, stemming another argument over the inconsistencies with NFL officiating this season and right on the heels of Commissioner Roger Goodell saying just a few days earlier, “I don’t think it’s ever been better”.
Despite the questionable ending, the Philly defense struggled the entire second half, allowing the Chiefs to score points on all four possessions and registering no sacks on MVP Patrick Mahomes all night.
Unfortunately, all outside Kansas City will likely remember an otherwise great Super Bowl ending in the most anti-climactic way possible.
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