Super Bowl 2023 officials slammed for penalty on Eagles' James Bradberry in Chiefs' win
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?
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
A hold was called here on a very uncatchable ball and almost no contact! #Rigged #SuperBowlLVII pic.twitter.com/CPta77KBy2
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) February 13, 2023
“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
Good for Greg Olsen calling out the refs. He’s a broadcasting star. pic.twitter.com/i6DMzz2nzU
— Andy Nesbitt (@anezbitt) February 13, 2023
Social media slams late penalty in Super Bowl 57:
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.
His hand on his back had no effect on his route! This game was too damn good for that call to dictate the outcome at the end. Damn! By the way I have no horse in the race. Just my professional opinion
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 13, 2023
Absolutely awful penalty
Horrible call— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) February 13, 2023
Horrible penalty call. Awful way to finish the Super Bowl. Absolutely no way that’s a penalty.
— Adam Gorney (@adamgorney) February 13, 2023
What a HORRIBLE call on Bradberry. WOW!
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) February 13, 2023
Horrible call by the refs, once again. You don’t call that at this moment
— Cardale Jones (@CJ1two) February 13, 2023
Even the announcers said it was a horrible call. His hand legit slips off his back. No tug of the jersey or nothing lmao. They had to bail their golden boy out once again 🤣 pic.twitter.com/tMkfpD6aF3
— Ty (@BurrowToBoyd) February 13, 2023
What a game. Unreal Super Bowl but to see it decided on that horrible holding call is a disgrace. Can’t make that call at that point of the game. Joke
— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) February 13, 2023
The refs ruined the game. Horrible ending to a fantastic game. #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/1W9fttFS2a
— Suzanne Doyle (@SuzanneDoyle613) February 13, 2023
I really didn't care who won this game. And this has been a blast to watch. But I can't imagine anyone outside of KC agrees with that call.
That was MUCH worse than the end of the KC-Cincy game.
Just lame. Horrible ending to a really fun game.— Mike Salk, Seattle Sports Station (@TheMikeSalk) February 13, 2023
Horrible call that quite possibly decided the Super Bowl.
That’s not anti Chief saltiness either. That would suck for any team.— Drew Garrison (@DrewGarrison) February 13, 2023
The @Eagles definitely got robbed. Horrible call by the ref in a moment of such high importance. @JalenHurts was the best player in #SuperBowl & refs took the opportunity away from him to tie or win the game.
Win or lose, we deserved the chance to watch him try… https://t.co/9isqAqEEvi— Ben Armstrong (@Bitboy_Crypto) February 13, 2023
If I’m an @Eagles fan, and I’m not, I would be pissed. Refs ruined a pretty good game by handing the game to the @Chiefs in the last mins of the game on a bogus holding call. What a shame. #rigged
This is all anyone will be talking about tomorrow. Horrible!— Michael (@Michael_USA1) February 13, 2023
That’s a horrible, game-sealing penalty call. Referees decided the Super Bowl.
— Paul Charchian (@PaulCharchian) February 13, 2023
The refs ruined one of the greatest games ever. pic.twitter.com/eMnj8wPJon
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) February 13, 2023
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
VOTE: Did the officials make the right call on the holding penalty on the #Eagles' James Bradberry late in the #Chiefs' #SuperBowl win on Sunday? (Fans cry foul: https://t.co/0IaEoaF28z) #ChiefsKingdom #FlyEaglesFly @azcentral
— azcentral sports (@azcsports) February 13, 2023
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 officials slammed for controversial James Bradberry penalty