Referee Carl Cheffers Explains Controversial Substantial Bowl Penalty on Eagles’ Bradberry

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Substantial Bowl LVII on Sunday at Voice Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, nonetheless now now not with out a small controversy.

Sunday’s sport was truly ended by a controversial penalty name on Eagles cornerback James Bradberry, noteworthy to the ire of Philadelphia fans.

With the sport tied at 35 slack in the fourth quarter, Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs on a force to Philadelphia’s 15-yard line with 1:54 closing on the clock. On a third-and-8, the wide title quarterback focused JuJu Smith-Schuster in the left nook of the end zone, nonetheless the ball was overthrown.

Even so, a flag was thrown and Bradberry was called for preserving on Smith-Schuster, which gave the Chiefs a first down. Kansas Metropolis went on to flee down the clock earlier than Harrison Butker kicked the sport-winning field design.

After the sport, referee Carl Cheffers explained the controversial name, telling reporters that it was “a positive case of a jersey grab that prompted restriction.”

“The receiver went to the interior and he was attempting to free as a lot as the outdoor,” Cheffers explained. “The defender grabbed the jersey with his stunning hand and restrictd him from releasing to the outdoor. So, due to the this truth, we called defensive preserving.”

Had the penalty now now not been called, the Chiefs doubtless would favor kicked a field design and the Eagles would favor gotten the ball aid with an opportunity to tie or gather the sport in the final moments.

Nonetheless, Bradberry told reporters after the sport that he believes the officers made the lovely name.

“I pulled on his jersey,” Bradberry said. “They called it. I was hoping they’d let it poke.”

Smith-Schuster concurred, announcing that he “100 p.c” felt love he was held by Bradberry on the play.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni also did now now not blame the referees for making the preserving name on Bradberry while meeting with reporters following Sunday’s loss, indirectly blaming it on a resolution of components.

“Or now now not it’s now now not my job to create the name. … There would possibly maybe be so many performs that contribute to the end outcomes of the sport and nowadays they had been higher than we had been,” Sirianni said.

Sirianni has a level, too.

The Eagles entered halftime with a 24-14 lead over the Chiefs earlier than a 2d half of collapse that saw Kansas Metropolis rating on every of their four possessions.

Philadelphia’s defense allowed 24 capabilities after halftime, and even the actual groups unit struggled because it allowed a Kadarius Toney 65-yard punt return that situation up Skyy Moore for a stride-ahead touchdown.

Irrespective of the loss, the Eagles like plenty to gape ahead to in the lengthy flee following the emergence of younger quarterback Jalen Hurts, who saw wide strides in his pattern in 2022.

That is finest the beginning for Philadelphia.