We’ve all had a night to sleep on it, and there is still much frustration over the way Super Bowl LVI ended last night, with the phantom holding call on Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson (who played a truly outstanding game) that gave the Rams a new set of downs instead of a challenging fourth-and-goal. To be clear, the Rams should not feel bad about the way they won their championship. It takes a massive effort to win a championship, and their players, coaches, and staff will always look back fondly on this Super Bowl.
However, many fans feel the way the game ended was cheap. The officials were letting the players play all game (the Tee Higgins facemask on his long touchdown to begin the second half is evidence of that, as was the play early in the game when Jalen Ramsey got away with a penalty of his own on a blatant hold at the goal line), so for them to take control at the end of the game like that was very frustrating and disappointing.
Also, for those that have been paying close attention all season, the Rams have been getting calls in their favor all season. To say that the NFL is “rigged” is a step way too far, but it is curious that the Rams had a game moved due to players on the COVID list (arguably much more generously than other squads over the past two years) and received notable key calls this year. Two prime examples, aside from the Super Bowl, are the Divisional Round win over the Buccaneers and the Tuesday night win over the Seahawks following the COVID move. It is worth mentioning that the NFL Network built its new studios right next to SoFi Stadium and wants the Rams (and to a lesser extent the Chargers) to be major players in Los Angeles.
All that said, here’s the top reaction to the end of last night’s game. Again, the Rams aren’t going to apologize for the way things went, but the consensus is that the Bengals were clearly on the short end of things to conclude the game.
Well I’m here to tell you it’s not we as defensive players have a right to make plays on the ball as well and Wilson made a great play that was stolen away from him by an absolutely atrocious penalty he never once held or tugged on him he was using his 5 yards re route him
— De'Vondre Campbell (@Came_Along_Way) February 14, 2022
This is just my opinion and my opinion only don’t try and dissect it and make it more than what it is. All and all Congrats to the Rams on winning the Super Bowl
— De'Vondre Campbell (@Came_Along_Way) February 14, 2022
“Wilson gets called for defensive holding. It’s just not holding.” @MikePereira reacts to the defensive holding penalty on Bengals LB Logan Wilson late in the 4th Qtr of Super Bowl LVI. pic.twitter.com/u5i2MZ6oQJ
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 14, 2022
The officials were determined to ignore every violation when the ball was in play and only call false starts, delay of game and taunting. They maintained that posture for 58 minutes and 39 seconds. Then they started officiating. That was bad. https://t.co/AmmPbmlxqu
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) February 14, 2022
Congratulations NFL, refs gave RAMS this game
— T.J. Houshmandzadeh (@housh84) February 14, 2022
The defensive holding penalty against Cincinnati never should have happened anyway because the officials didn’t call an obvious false start on the entire offensive line. pic.twitter.com/U1itLG7RPA
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) February 14, 2022
LA was just handed a lead. I mean handed a lead by the NFL. Logan Wilson made a textbook play and the official threw a terrible flag. Awful.
— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) February 14, 2022
“I think it’s pretty clean.” – Cris Collinsworth pic.twitter.com/hXDqTAskM8
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) February 14, 2022
Donald offsides on the 4th and 1. They usually give you a warning the first time, but this one, I would’ve called. Head clearly across the line pic.twitter.com/yEdVSNpQC1
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) February 13, 2022
I’m salty and I didn’t even care who won. Was such a great game until madness at the end.
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) February 14, 2022
No maybe about it! They handed the Rams a championship!
The refs stole this game from the Bengals, they must have had a ton of money bet on the rams.
The refs stole the game from the Bengals. Must have made tons of money from their bad calls.
The refs stole the game from the Bengals.
Rams fan here… The refs ruined this game… absolutely they’ve been ruining SBs sense Steelers vs Seahawks. It’s always been rigged.
Thank you for your honesty as a Rams fan.
Ok final seconds in the game, illegal call’s, fights & etc. But the BENGALS should’ve won
True NFL fan here & I know that ending was all them illegal call’s just so the Rams could win. Like what the fuck is wrong with them? Like honestly as a fan of the sport I want honest down to the wire plays called, not cheating all the way. Now I’m sorry to say this but the Bengals are the Champions not the Rams!!!
True NFL fan here & I know that ending was all them illegal call’s just so the Rams could win. Like what the fuck is wrong with them? Like honestly as a fan of the sport I want honest down to the wire plays called, not cheating all the way. Now I’m sorry to say this but the Bengals are the Champions not the Rams!!!
AGREED!
I have never been more mad about a game as an impartial viewer than this Super Bowl. Yes that facemask on Ramsey was bad, but he was beat anyway. Just terrible against the Bengals in the end would have been 4th and goal from the 9. Rams shouldn’t feel good about this title.
I payed alot money to make sure time one and evey watch me flip that coin. I say go Fienstine and here friends in China! Deal with it. NA NA YA YA
I payed alot money to make sure this time I won and evey watch me flip that coin. I say go Fienstine and here friends in China! Deal with it. NA! NA! YA !YA!
the officials were playing for the Rams just minus the helmet and shoulder pads and came up huge for LA when they needed it the most
the officials were playing for the Rams just minus the helmet and shoulder pads and came up huge for LA when they needed it the most
Amazing!!! Everyone has their take on what should have been a penalty. So far, no one has said, there were calls on both sides that should have been called. The calls were not one-sided. I think Jalen Ramsey did not get a call (his helmet was grabbed and his head turned-clearly defensive pass interference); that lead to 6 points and not one fan complained about that!!! Let’s face it, Matthew Stafford out played Joe Burrow. He made the throws when he had to and Joe did not; 4 chances to get a 1st down (1 yard mind you) was Joe’s chance at redemption!!! Matthew, on the other hand, made all the big plays and that is why the Rams won the Super bowl. I am not a Rams or Bengals fan. I just love football.
Sorry, but WRONG!!! Stafford was bailed out by getting a free set of downs at the one yard line. Furthermore, the Higgins face mask was bad but they let them play all day. Ramsey held Higgins on the opening drive. If you are going to say the Bengals were given 7 points on that face mask, well the Rams were given 11 during the game! Facts!