Watch: The Phantom Penalty Call That May Have Cost the Rams the Game
New England Patriots haters are going to have a field day with this one.
A holding call on the Los Angeles Rams’ John Sullivan nullified a big first-down run by running back Todd Gurley, killing a fourth-quarter drive and changing the complexion of Super Bowl LIII Sunday in Atlanta.
The Patriots went on to win 13-3.
The replay showed the Sullivan holding penalty was a very bad call.
Joke Holding call kills drive for Rams https://t.co/QmsbMhidwJ
— Kendall Ferrell (@KendallF) February 4, 2019
Many on social media criticized the call, including Rams fans who said it “changed everything.”
Phantom holding call on Rams’ Sullivan on Gurley run is the play of the game. Changed everything.
— Lyle Spencer (@LyleMSpencer) February 4, 2019
That was the worst holding call on Sullivan, brought back a big gurley run. Terrible
— Max Holt (@max_holt14) February 4, 2019
Holding on that Gurley run was a horrible call, then Goff gets hit out of bounds and it’s a no call. I wish these refs would stop ruining the game of football #SuperBowl
— West Coast (@cali4niaboiii) February 4, 2019
Phantom holding call. Break for NE.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 4, 2019
Yikes. That’s not holding
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) February 4, 2019
Oooooooh boy that was a really bad holding call.
— TJ Lang (@TJLang70) February 4, 2019
That was not holding!
— DeMarcus Walker (@livinglegend_44) February 4, 2019
Wait a minute.
Was it a terrible call? Absolutely.
Did the Rams still have three plays to rack up 20 yards and a first down? Absolutely.
Was this call the reason the Rams eventually gave up a touchdown, threw a pick and couldn’t stop the run down the stretch? Absolutely not.
Given the rather… controversial way that the Rams made it to the Super Bowl, their fans are really the last ones who have any right to complain about a bad call.
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