Eagles’ James Bradberry on Super Bowl game-winning penalty: “It was a save”

Eagles cornerback James Bradberry admitted he pinned Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in a critical third game in Kansas City’s game-winning drive in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday. The Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII, beating the Eagles 38-35 in Glendale, Arizona. Here’s what you need to know:

• Patrick Mahomes, the game’s MVP, threw an incomplete pass to Smith-Schuster on a corner route with Bradberry in cover in third and 8 at the Eagles ’15 with 1:54 in the game. Bradberry was flagged for a defensive hold to extend the drive rather than forcing the Chiefs to kick a field goal.
• Rather than the Eagles having a chance to get the ball back, Kansas City was able to eat almost the rest of the clock, resulting in a 27-yard field goal from Harrison Butker that won the game with eight seconds left.

Officiating was the topic of discussion throughout Super Bowl LVII.

But both players involved say they made the right decision.#Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/MNqUu31fe0

— The Athlete (@TheAthletic) February 13, 2023

What you say

Speaking to reporters after Super Bowl LVII, Bradberry said, “It was a holding company. I tugged at his jersey. I was hoping they would let it slide.”

Smith-Schuster said it was “100 percent” a holding penalty.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni added, “These guys have to do this in split seconds. He saw it and named it. I know it always seems like it’s a phone call that makes (the difference). That’s not it. To the right? That’s not it. There are so many moves that contribute to the bottom line of the game and today they were better than us.”

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(Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images)