KC Chiefs: The miscues that defined Super Bowl LV

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TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after a penalty call in the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

3. Holding call negates Mathieu interception

(7:55 – 2nd) 3rd & 4 at KC 32

Unlike other plays listed, this one is not a Chiefs mistake, at least in my opinion. With the score 14-3, Brady throws a tipped pass that Tyrann Matthieu intercepts. It should have been a massive turning point. And boy, if you believe in momentum, this surely flipped it.

Alas, it was not to be. The play was called back as Charvarius Ward got called for a “holding” call. which, in polite terms, was a poor call.

I don’t buy into the idea that the refs consciously “favored” Tampa or anything like that. I tend to think that poor calls generally balance out in the course of a game. It’s just that a poor call occurred in a pivotal, game-changing moment. If you want a “turning point” of the game, this is your moment.

I don’t know if the result would have been different had the interception counted. This was, however, one of the few moments where the Chiefs did not hurt the Chiefs. Instead, they were beaten down by a bad call in the worst possible situation.

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