Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) reacts after making a catch against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Watch: Eagles' A.J. Brown hit with controversial penalty in Super Bowl LIX

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated Feb 9, 2025 7:23 PM ET

Facing 4th-and-2 at the 50-yard line on the opening possession of Super Bowl LIX, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hit wide receiver A.J. Brown with a 28-yard completion, or so he thought.

Brown was called for offensive pass interference, a call that Fox broadcasters Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady were quick to criticize.

A.J. Brown called for Offensive Pass Interference pic.twitter.com/U6272EW4c5
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) February 9, 2025

Some NFL fans have been critical of calls siding with the Kansas City Chiefs, which are trying to win a third-straight Super Bowl title, all season, feeling that calls are consistently made in their favor.

According to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, the Chiefs were called for fewer penalties (36) than the opposition (66) in 10 of their last 11 playoff games when opponents lost nearly 225 more penalty yards than Kansas City.

Head coach Nick Sirianni was livid afterwards on the sidelines, as the play would have given his team an excellent chance to score on their opening drive.

Fortunately for Eagles fans, third-string receiver Jahan Dotson got Philadelphia down to the 1-yard line, where Hurts used the team's signature tush-push play to score the game's first touchdown.

Bruce Ewing

Bruce Ewing is 183 pounds of twisted steel and Happy Meals. His work has appeared on Yardbarker, 5th Down Fantasy, Inside the Iggles and MSN. Give a Philly fan a break and follow him on Twitter/X at @fantasybruce.

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