Was Super Bowl 57 ‘rigged’ for Chiefs? James Bradberry penalty has Eagles fans crying foul
Bradberry #Bradberry
Did the officials cost the Philadelphia Eagles the Super Bowl, or at least a chance at winning it?
Social media sounded off on a controversial call after the game, a play that allowed the Kansas Chiefs to run down the clock for the late game-winning field goal at State Farm Stadium in Arizona at Super Bowl 57 on Sunday night.
The play?
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On Kansas City’s final drive, Eagles cornerback James Bradberry was called for holding on JuJu Smith-Schuster with 1:54 left and the Chiefs’ facing 3rd and 8 at the Philadelphia 15 in a tie game.
The penalty gave Kansas City a first down on the Eagles’ 11. After Jerick McKinnon ran for nine yards and intentionally slid short of the end zone, the Chiefs adeptly milked off the remaining time on two Patrick Mahomes knee-downs, setting up the winning field goal of 27 yards by Harrison Butker in the Chiefs’ 38-35 win.
More:Chiefs win Super Bowl thriller over Eagles in Arizona
“It was a holding. I tugged on the jersey,” Bradberry said after the game.
In a post-game interview with pool reporter Lindsay Jones, referee Carl Cheffers said, “The receiver went to the inside and he was attempting to release to the outside. The defender grabbed the jersey with his right hand and restricted him from releasing to the outside. So, therefore, we called defensive holding.”
Fox analyst Greg Olsen did not agree with the call when it happened on the broadcast, although Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira said it was the right call.
More:Super Bowl 57 turf called into question during Chiefs vs. Eagles game
Social media slammed the call, with “the refs,” “horrible” and “#rigged” being among trending items on Twitter in the aftermath of the game.
Many posted comments questioning the call, with LeBron James among those not happy with it.
What do you think: Were the Eagles “robbed” with that call? Did the officials cost Philadelphia the game?
Super Bowl 58 odds: Kansas City Chiefs favored to repeat in 2024 NFL Championship Game
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Super Bowl 2023 officials slammed for penalty on Eagles’ James Bradberry in Chiefs’ win