Worst Calls by Officials in Super Bowl History
By Michael Luciano
Contrary to popular belief, NFL referees do get things right most of the time. When they mess up, however, the call they blow can overshadow the rest of the game -- and even the careers of the officials themselves. Bill Vinovich's crew had better hope that Super Bowl LIV isn't a repeat of the NFC Championship game, and that they can avoid adding another blown call to this soul-crushing list of worst calls in Super Bowl memory.
3. No PI on Stephon Gilmore
The competition committee said this play should have been interference and the #Rams would have gotten the ball on the 1-yard line. I pointed this out that night (some of you were irritated). It was subtle but by the letter of the law... pic.twitter.com/TdJi2YBnzw
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) March 27, 2019
Jared Goff struggled against the Patriots in last year's big game, but he was able to drop a dime to Brandin Cooks on a go route as the Rams attempted to make a furious comeback. Cooks dropped the pass, but not after Stephon Gilmore got handsy with the Rams wideout. This was not called as eithr holding or pass interference, and Goff was picked off on the next play, all but sealing LA's fate.
2. Missed Flag On Jimmy Smith in XLVII
February 3, 2013: Jimmy Smith makes two huge plays to seal the super bowl victory over the 49ers pic.twitter.com/4qW4pAwGKh
— Ravens Moments (@MomentsRavens) December 24, 2018
These two plays are like a magic eye picture. If you're a Ravens fan, you see an elite corner knocking down two Colin Kaepernick passes en route to a Super Bowl win for Baltimore. If you're a 49ers fan, you see blatant holding and pass interference that could have easily been challenged if the rule allowing such decisions was in effect back then. As controversial as this is, the call was made, and Smith's handsy play on Crabtree was excused. The Ravens eventually took home the win.
1. Basically All Of Super Bowl XL
Crying that a game is "rigged" is normally quite desperate, but the Seahawks might have a legitimate case here. On seemingly every big Seattle play in Super Bowl XL, a penalty came along to negate it. On several occasions in which the Seahawks made a stop, a flag helped the Steelers out. Mike Holmgren and the rest of the Hawks STILL have a bone to pick with the league after this game, and when you watch the game as a whole, it's easy to see why.