Football fans are accusing the refs of “rigging” Super Bowl 58 after missing a clear penalty against the Kansas City Chiefs during a crucial play.
On the opening drive of overtime, Jake Moody kicked a field goal to put the San Francisco 49ers up by three. With that, Kyle Shanahan’s squad needed just one more stop on defense to secure the Lombardi Trophy.
Facing a 3rd-and-6 situation at their own 46-yard line, Patrick Mahomes found Rashee Rice for a pivotal 13-yard gain. Six plays later, Mahomes threw the game-winning touchdown to Mecole Hardman to secure the repeat.
But as you can see in the videos and images below, Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon got away with what looked like an obvious hold on 49ers linebacker Fred Warner during the 3rd-and-6 play:
Ohhhhh… McKinnon got away with a pretty clear hold on a big 3rd and 6 in OT pic.twitter.com/ryjHR1x6Jl
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) February 12, 2024
Mesh with McVay’s “Ali Protection”
McKinnon responsible for A-Gap pic.twitter.com/srxd6emhwQ
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) February 12, 2024
ANOTHER ONE 🎥😳: #Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon holds and tackles a blitzing #49ers LB Fred Warner.
The refs don’t make a call and it goes for a huge Chiefs gain. pic.twitter.com/tOxsNTHwtl
— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) February 12, 2024
And unsurprisingly, these posts led to more calls from fans that Super bowl 58 was rigged in favor of Mahomes’ Chiefs:
Another game with 5+ missed holdings for the Chiefs… It's becoming comical at this point.
— Ravens Facts (@2cents2cents) February 12, 2024
Everyone knows that the Super Bowl was rigged!!!! Holding should’ve been called when they held down Warner pushing him in his BACK!!!!!! @CBSSports @espn @NFL @NFLonFOX
— Marcus Ramos Sr (@Young_King217) February 12, 2024
Chiefs lineman tackles Fred Warner on a blitz and another no call. This is why people say the #NFL is rigged. #SuperBowl
— EvilTomHanks (@EvilTomHanks) February 12, 2024
NFL is basically the WWE now.
All scripted. Fixed. They pick who they want to win.
It’s all for entertainment & honestly I don’t even know why I watch & care so much.
It’s all fake.
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) February 12, 2024
Completely rigged. No way the refs missed that many holds. The Bosa takedown and Fred Warner getting tackled by the RB were two of the worst ones.
— Land Sharks Inc. (@landsharksinc) February 12, 2024
Whether fans like it or not, referee Bill Vinovich and his crew essentially “let them play” throughout the game. Each team was penalized six times (49ers for 40 yards, Chiefs for 55), and it was hard to dispute any of the fouls that were actually called.
It’s easy to blame the refs, but at the end of the day, it was just another case of Patrick Mahomes magic with the game on the line.
Ohhhhh… McKinnon got away with a pretty clear hold on a big 3rd and 6 in OT pic.twitter.com/ryjHR1x6Jl
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) February 12, 2024
