Chiefs win with aid of controversial penalty by Eagles' Bradberry

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII with aid of controversial penalty by James Bradberry

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 2/13/23

The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions again thanks to their 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

A controversial penalty call late in the fourth quarter will be the main talking point to come away from the game.

With two minutes to play and the score tied 35-35, the Chiefs were facing a third-and-eight inside the Philadelphia 20-yard line. It was at that point that Eagles cornerback James Bradberry was called for holding that gave the Chiefs a crucial first down.

Have a look.

This was called holding

Do you agree?
pic.twitter.com/9FzVFXkD9Q
— PFF (@PFF) February 13, 2023

That is a brutal way for the game to slip away from the Eagles, and a penalty there was the absolute worst possible outcome on that play.

Had the Chiefs been stopped on that third down, or even if they had scored a touchdown, the Eagles would have had an opportunity to respond with a drive of their own and either tie the game or win it.

But the penalty gave the Chiefs a first down and extended the drive.
Because the Eagles were down to just a single timeout, and because it was on the other side of the two minute warning, the Chiefs were able to run the clock down to under 10 seconds and allow Harrison Butker to kick a 27-yard field goal to win it.

Eagles fans are going to be livid over that call because it played a role in costing them the Super Bowl.

Everybody that is not a Chiefs or Eagles fan is going to be livid because it took what could have been an epic finish between Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts and turned it into a chip-shot field goal.

Chiefs fans? Well, they are not going to care because they have their second Lombardi Trophy in four years.

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