02-02-2020, 11:06 PM
The most important play of Super Bowl LIV was Chiefs 3rd and 15 with 7 mins left. At the snap, Nick Bosa and DeForrest Buckner executed a twist that had Bosa work inside in front of Buckner, who ran around to the vacated spot Bosa left.
Rather than passing Bosa off to a Guard, LT Fisher went with Bosa inside and the Guard futilely followed Buckner to no avail, who had a clean line to Mahomes. As Bosa went inside of where Buckner vacated, Fisher’s right hand grabbed Bosa’s jersey neck on Bosa’s right shoulder and pulled him downward by his shoulder pad, preventing Bosa from cleanly getting passed Fisher and vertical to Mahomes. As Bosa went up field toward Mahomes, he used a swim move to get off the hold, but as he did, Fisher reached around Bosa’s back with his left arm, further impeding Bosa to get vertical, but also pushing Bosa further to Bosa’s left than he wanted to be. This “double hold” prevented Bosa, who had otherwise badly beaten Fisher, from getting to the face of Mahomes as quickly as he would have if not held.
As Buckner neared Mahomes, with Bosa having been held and pushed, Mahomes was able to step forward into his throw that was like a punt for WR Hill. If Bosa had not been held up by the double hold, he would have been right in front of Mahomes and not given him anywhere to step up. Mahomes either would have thrown a less accurate pass, or been hit by both Buckner and Bosa for a sack. As it was, Buckner was just half a second from hitting Mahomes before he threw the ball Hill caught for the biggest first down of the game.
I didn’t notice this live, but when I went back to see the play, I was amazed how flagrant the hold on Bosa was, and it was actually a separate hold with each arm. This hold was far more flagrant than the OPI called on Kittle before halftime. And I do believe the OPI was legit.
The Niners didn’t lose because of the officials, but there is no doubt Bosa was flagrantly held on the most important play of the game, one that turned the game’s momentum. Had he not been held, Mahomes would have been sacked or thrown a ball while being hit that likely would have been incomplete. Had the penalty been called, it would have been 3rd and 25. Instead, it was the longest pass play of the game and catalyzed a comeback.
Rather than passing Bosa off to a Guard, LT Fisher went with Bosa inside and the Guard futilely followed Buckner to no avail, who had a clean line to Mahomes. As Bosa went inside of where Buckner vacated, Fisher’s right hand grabbed Bosa’s jersey neck on Bosa’s right shoulder and pulled him downward by his shoulder pad, preventing Bosa from cleanly getting passed Fisher and vertical to Mahomes. As Bosa went up field toward Mahomes, he used a swim move to get off the hold, but as he did, Fisher reached around Bosa’s back with his left arm, further impeding Bosa to get vertical, but also pushing Bosa further to Bosa’s left than he wanted to be. This “double hold” prevented Bosa, who had otherwise badly beaten Fisher, from getting to the face of Mahomes as quickly as he would have if not held.
As Buckner neared Mahomes, with Bosa having been held and pushed, Mahomes was able to step forward into his throw that was like a punt for WR Hill. If Bosa had not been held up by the double hold, he would have been right in front of Mahomes and not given him anywhere to step up. Mahomes either would have thrown a less accurate pass, or been hit by both Buckner and Bosa for a sack. As it was, Buckner was just half a second from hitting Mahomes before he threw the ball Hill caught for the biggest first down of the game.
I didn’t notice this live, but when I went back to see the play, I was amazed how flagrant the hold on Bosa was, and it was actually a separate hold with each arm. This hold was far more flagrant than the OPI called on Kittle before halftime. And I do believe the OPI was legit.
The Niners didn’t lose because of the officials, but there is no doubt Bosa was flagrantly held on the most important play of the game, one that turned the game’s momentum. Had he not been held, Mahomes would have been sacked or thrown a ball while being hit that likely would have been incomplete. Had the penalty been called, it would have been 3rd and 25. Instead, it was the longest pass play of the game and catalyzed a comeback.