Super Bowl LVII ends with controversial defensive holding call
Super Bowl LVII ended in controversial fashion on Sunday night.
With just over 90 seconds remaining, the Chiefs were facing 3rd and 8 in the red zone. Patrick Mahomes was pressured and through up a jump ball into the end zone, which fell incomplete.
However, officials called defensive holding on Eagles cornerback James Bradberry.
Here’s a replay of the call:
James Bradberry gets called for a holding penalty late in Eagles-Chiefs.
Good or bad call? 🤔pic.twitter.com/knnzKzVq7Q
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) February 13, 2023
Kansas City was then able to run down the clock and kick the game-winning field goal with just seconds remaining.
Harrison Butker, who missed a field goal earlier in the game, made the kick to give the Chiefs their 2nd Super Bowl victory in the last 5 seasons.
The Eagles had just 8 seconds left after Butker’s game-winning kick, and were unable to find a game-winning score.
This was the Chiefs’ 3rd Super Bowl victory in franchise history.
Here’s some of the reaction to the holding call:
Fwiw I don't think the call was bad because "you've gotta let the boys play in the last two minutes." I think the call was bad because the league have made it impossible to play DB in the NFL and the level of rule-breaking here even in this draconian league was minor
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) February 13, 2023
Yeah that holding call was bad but it was even worse for phiLLy so ima let it be 🤷🏻♂️
— Dalton Schultz (@BinghamBaller9) February 13, 2023
Chiefs were gifted 2 playoff games in a row! Entire officiating crew needs to be OVERHAULED, players put EVERYTHING into this & these guys just make bad call after bad call! Disappointing is an understatement
— T.J. Houshmandzadeh (@housh84) February 13, 2023
An extremely weak and soft holding call has now decided two straight all-time great Super Bowls. That’s a damn shame! pic.twitter.com/Pn7z638rKh
— Sam Block (@theblockspot) February 13, 2023
Nice to finally see America unite around something. #BadCall
— John Keilman (@JohnKeilman) 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
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
Are you kidding me? Another SUPER suspect holding call deciding the end of the SuperBowl 🧐🤔
— CJ Uzomah (@cj_uzomah) February 13, 2023
In a game with NO holding calls, they called that on #Eagles on a 3rd and 8 play….I have a major problem with that… you?
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) 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
Hate to see such a great SB turn on a ticky tack holding call. That was super minor.
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) 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
Hmmm these holding calls at the end of superbowls are crazy.
— Dj Reader (@Djread98) February 13, 2023
