Super Bowl LVII decided by controversial defensive holding call
Super Bowl LVII ended in anticlimactic fashion on Sunday night.
With just over 90 seconds remaining, the Chiefs were awarded a new set of downs on a questionable defensive holding call. 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.
Here’s a replay of the defensive holding, which was called on Eagles cornerback James Bradberry:
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
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:
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
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
