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Super Bowl 57 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles was an instant classic.
It pitted perhaps the league’s best roster against an already generationally great quarterback in Patrick Mahomes.
For much of the game, it looks as if the Eagles would prevail. Philadelphia took an early lead and continued to lead for the overwhelming majority of the first half. The Eagles entered halftime up 24-14 and with Mahomes, who was still dealing with a high ankle sprain, hobbled.
But Mahomes and the Chiefs answered the call.
Kansas City outscored Philly 7-3 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 27-21. They then took the lead on a Kadarius Toney 5-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter.
But Philly did strike back, tying the game with just over five minutes to play.
That’s when Mahomes, who went 13-of-14 for 95 yards, two touchdowns and a 26-yard scramble. The league’s MVP led Kansas City on a 12-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a game-winning field goal with under 10 seconds remaining.
But it wasn’t without controversy.
Eagles Cornerback James Bradberry Admits To Super Bowl Holding Call
Philadelphia appeared to have the Chiefs stop with slightly under a minute to play. Though a holding call on Eagles’ cornerback James Bradberry extended the drive and all but ended the contest. Fans were dubious about the call, to say the least.
Bradberyy, however, had no questions about it.
“I pulled on his jersey. They called it. I was hoping they would let it ride,” Bradberry said after the game, according to CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina Anderson.
That’s quite the admission. And fans weren’t really buying what he had to say.
https://twitter.com/whatandwhy81/status/1624984926918701056?s=20&t=6iMGr_MXuTvp790DA35KiQ
poor guy. it really shouldn’t have been called https://t.co/MbbuQzCbHI
— marissa (@bylinemarissa) February 13, 2023
People will victory lap this but it doesn't change the fact refs didn't call it all night. Like Logan Wilson last year. https://t.co/BLckbzKFhD
— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) February 13, 2023
Bradberry unquestionably tugged on JuJu Smith-Schuster’s jersey.
https://twitter.com/ryan_foisy/status/1625008669070069760?s=20&t=6iMGr_MXuTvp790DA35KiQ
But it’s still a pretty tough call to make in that situation. And Eagles fans likely don’t want to hear any explanation after the loss.
You’ve got to credit Bradberry either way for owning up to the situation.