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'How is this possible': Super Bowl decided in extraordinary camera controversy

yahoo sports staff
·5-min read

After trailing 20-10 in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs took a stunning late lead over the San Francisco 49ers thanks to a touchdown catch and run by running back Damien Williams.

But should it have counted?

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With Kansas City trailing 20-17 with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter, Williams took a swing pass from Patrick Mahomes on third-and-goal from the five-yard line and ran to the corner of the end zone.

Damien Williams, pictured here scoring a controversial late touchdown in the Super Bowl.
Damien Williams scored a controversial late touchdown. Image: ESPN

Williams reached the ball over the right pylon as he was pushed out of bounds.

Officials ruled it a go-ahead touchdown.

They took a long look at the play via replay review to determine if Williams actually scored.

Replays showed a close play as Williams stepped out of bounds around the same time the ball crossed the plane.

Damien Williams, pictured here celebrating his go-ahead touchdown in the Super Bowl.
Damien Williams celebrates his go-ahead touchdown. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

But none of the angles showed anything conclusive. Officials ruled that the call on the field stood, granting the Chiefs a touchdown as they took a 24-20 lead.

Had officials not ruled it a touchdown on the field, it seems likely that call would have stood as well.

Replay wasn’t clear, and the biggest call in the Super Bowl swung in the Chiefs’ favour.

The NFL world immediately erupted over the controversy, with many baffled as to why the defining camera angle wasn’t directly in line with the goal line.

49ers fans blast ruling

Needless to say, San Francisco fans were not particularly happy.

However it may not have mattered as Williams scored another touchdown with 1:12 remaining to secure a 31-20 win for the Chiefs.

Chiefs champions for first time in 50 years

The Chiefs’ dramatic comeback ended Australian punter Mitch Wishnowsky's Super Bowl dream.

Wishnowsky was aiming to become the first Aussie to play in a winning Super Bowl, but it wasn’t to be.

Uncomfortable and under duress for much of the game, Mahomes suddenly recaptured his mojo - and lifted Andy Reid and the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory - the team's first NFL championship in a half-century.

All it took was falling behind by double digits in the postseason again. Then Mahomes, selected MVP, hit two long passes on touchdown drives.

The vaunted 49ers defense wilted late, particularly on passes of 44 yards to Tyreek Hill and 38 to Sammy Watkins.

Andy Reid, pictured here getting the gatorade shower after the Super Bowl.
Andy Reid gets the gatorade shower. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The touchdowns came on short throws to Travis Kelce to cut the deficit to three and to Williams for the lead.

The first NFL title in Chiefs coach Reid's two-decade career was clinched by Williams' 38-yard TD run, sending red-clad Chiefs fan into chants of “Andy!'' Andy!”

Reid, 61, won a Super Bowl ring with the 1996 Packers while in charge of tight ends. He's been seeking one as a head coach since being hired by Philadelphia in 1999. The Eagles lost in their only trip to the big game after the 2004 season.

The Chiefs (15-4) trailed 24-0 and 17-7 in their previous playoff games.

Their fans in the crowd of 62,417 at Hard Rock Stadium got little opportunity to chant and do the tomahawk chop as KC fell behind 20-10 with 17 1-2 minutes remaining.

Mahomes even threw his second interception of the night after that. But then came the kind of Mahomes magic that makes him special.

with agencies