Another Classic Arizona Super Bowl
A perfect night was turned soul crushing as a controversial call ended and marred an otherwise classic Super Bowl LVII
Arizona always hosts the perfect Super Bowls.
They were home to Super Bowl XLII when Eli Manning and the Giants used a crazy David Tyree helmet catch to upset Tom Bradyâs undefeated Patriots.
Then they saw Malcolm Butler intercept Russell Wilson at the goaline with seconds remaining to preserve the Patriots victory in Super Bowl XLIX over the Seahawks.
Again, it was a perfect Arizona night between the Chiefs and Eagles.
Perfect teams. The No. 1 seeds from each conference with identical records, points scored and playoff path.
Perfect QBs. MVP Patrick Mahomes and runner up Jalen Hurts.
Perfect Halftime Show. Rihanna performing 12 songs pregnant while being lifted down and up on floating shelves.
Perfect Performance. Offensive masterpieces, key defensive and special teams play, a two-point conversion; even a doink off the upright.
Everything was perfect.
Then a tricky tack holding penalty was called that abruptly, unnecessarily and irresponsibly ended the game.
On a 3rd and 8 at the Philadelphia 15, James Bradberry was called for a hold that gave Kansas City a new set of downs and allowed them to take knees yards from the end zone to settle for a chip shot field goal that effectively ended Super Bowl LVII.
Only eight total penalties had been called the entire evening, and none were of the holding or pass interference variety. Players were slipping on the grass all night; and there was minimal contact near the line of scrimmage on a ball that was well overthrown.
If youâre a fan, you gotta be upset that the game was so severely disrespected in the most critical of moments. Like Will Ferrell in Kicking & Screaming upset.
It went from being perhaps the all-time greatest Super Bowl ever to just so-so. It will forever have an asterisk and be dismissed and discredited for itsâ dud of an ending.
Maybe the worst call since the PI on Miami (FL) in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.
Even the refs in Super Bowl XLVII between San Francisco and Baltimore did not call anything on the contact in the end zone on the 49ers final Fourth & Goal.
And to be clear, I do not even think this guaranteed a Philadelphia victory. I actually think Mahomes gets the ball back with enough time on the clock to set up a game winning field goal anyway.
The point is that those final two minutes should not have been ripped away from us like that. We deserved to have gotten a real ending.
The Game
The first matchup between two black QBs in the Super Bowl delivered on the hype. Both were fantastic. But letâs be clear: Hurts outplayed Mahomes.
Hurts had over 370 total yards and four TDs including being the first player to have three rushing TDs in the Super Bowl since Terrell Davis.
Mahomes was 21-of-27 and had just over 220 total yards and three TDs, two of which were short, wide open lobs from inside the five.
The Eagles actually dominated in just about every categoryâTOP, yards, plays, first downs, fourth downâbut made one too many mistakes to give potentially the second best QB ever (hard to see how he passes Brady due to head to head) one too many chances.
Ultimately, the Eagles did not lose the game on Bradberryâs self-admitted hold. They lost it because they essentially gave up a defensive and special teams TD and could not stop Mahomes.
Somehow weâll get this sour taste out of our mouths, and look back somewhat fondly on this night.
But without question the refs took away some of its shine.