The Chiefs captured their second Super Bowl championship in the last four seasons with a thrilling 38–35 victory in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday night, but it was not without late game controversy.
Kansas City wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster drew a holding penalty from Philadelphia cornerback James Bradberry on an incomplete pass late in the fourth quarter. The call was viewed by many as a bit ticky-tack, and drew criticism from NFL fans towards the officials following the critical penalty.
When asked about the penalty after the game, Smith-Schuster had no doubt in his mind that the referees made the correct call.
“Oh yes, a hundred percent,” he said when asked if he believed he was held. “My route was strike in and then strike back out. I mean, Bradberry is a good player but I feel like the call is gonna be called.”
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As for the other sideline, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was asked about the penalty when he met with the press following the loss. “It’s not my job to make the call,” Sirianni said. “Those guys have to do that in split-second scenarios. And so that’s what he saw and he called it. I know it always appears to be that it’s one call that makes the game, but that’s not what it is. It’s not what it is. There’s so many plays that contribute to the end result of the game and today they were better than we were.”
The Eagles took a 10 point lead into halftime, but were outscored 24–11 in the second half as Kansas City took home the title.
