Super Bowl 57 was easily one of the best Super Bowls we’ve seen in quite some time.
The Eagles and Chiefs both played excellent, nearly flawless games so, of course, the game went down to the wire.
The score was tied 35-35 with the Chiefs in the red zone. It’s 3rd-and-8. Mahomes drops back and is under pressure. He floats the ball toward the back of the endzone and it sails out of bounds.
Play over. Everyone expects the Chiefs to kick a field goal now and the Eagles get another chance to score. Either the Chiefs will win on a stop or the Eagles will win on a score.
But…that’s not what happened. Not even close.
Instead, we got one of the most anticlimactic defensive holding calls in NFL history.
brutal penalty call pic.twitter.com/dHsEjOYVGb
— alex (@highIightheaven) February 13, 2023
Just an absolutely brutal call right there. It effectively ended the game.
The Chiefs were able to run the clock down for the final two minutes of the game and kicked a field goal to seal the win.
Kansas City deserved to win this game. They were spectacular. The Chiefs masterfully played their hand at the end and Patrick Mahomes made play after play for a well-deserved MVP award. No one can dispute that.
But this was not the ending this game deserved. At all. For the second year in a row, too. Fans were livid.
Usually don’t get involved in ripping referees but HATE that defensive holding call on Bradberry. 35-35 late on a 3rd down incompletion on what was a marginal foul???
Let em play man!!
Bad call-hate that is what many will take away from this game.— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) February 13, 2023
Two super bowls in a row with red zone 3rd down holding penalties late in the game
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) February 13, 2023
Shoulda been whoever threw the defensive holding flag. https://t.co/7ne19DmpOt
— Jaden Daly (@jadendaly) February 13, 2023
That’s an absolutely disgraceful holding call at this spot in the Super Bowl. Embarrassing to call it.
— Pat Gallen (@PatGallenCBS3) February 13, 2023
Are you kidding me? Another SUPER suspect holding call deciding the end of the SuperBowl 🧐🤔
— CJ Uzomah (@cj_uzomah) February 13, 2023
Hmmm these holding calls at the end of superbowls are crazy.
— Dj Reader (@Djread98) February 13, 2023
Bad holding call that changes the outcome of the Super Bowl you say? pic.twitter.com/4sCHNcRb40
— Daxton FIRE ZAC TAYLOR (@DaxtonDB1) February 13, 2023
That is a weak ass holding call with the Super Bowl on the line.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) February 13, 2023
That’s the most horrendous holding call I’ve ever seen … #SuperBowl #RIGGED
— Jayson Ortiz (@Jayson_ortiz) February 13, 2023
Softest holding call I’ve seen in some time. Might cost a team a Super Bowl.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 13, 2023
Back-to-back Super Bowls with iffy third-down defensive holding calls in the red zone in the final 2 minutes.
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) February 13, 2023
The NFL Officials really stole a classic away from the world. A SOFT holding penalty to end the game. The NFL is crazy. Wow.
— Swipa (@SwipaCam) February 13, 2023
Congratulations @NFL. That was actually a great Super Bowl prior to that holding call.
Yet once again, the main topic of discussion is going to be the referees.
— Bengals Ben 🐅 (@bengalsben513) February 13, 2023
I don’t care at all about football…
I literally only watch the Super Bowl but I can’t help but feel immensely disappointed in how that ended in the holding call.
Sheesh.
— Jack “CouRage” Dunlop (@CouRageJD) February 13, 2023
