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Proven Strategies for Minimizing Hold Times When Calling the IRS Office

Are you tired of spending hours on hold when trying to contact the IRS office by phone? You’re not alone. Many individuals and businesses struggle with long wait times and frustrating customer service experiences. However, there are several proven strategies that can help minimize hold times and make your experience more efficient. In this article, we will explore these strategies in detail, giving you the tools you need to navigate the IRS phone system effectively.

Understanding the Importance of Preparation

Preparation is key when it comes to contacting the IRS office by phone. Before making a call, gather all necessary documents and information related to your query or issue. This will help streamline the conversation and reduce the time spent searching for relevant details during the call.

Another important aspect of preparation is conducting thorough research on the specific topic or question you need assistance with. The more knowledgeable you are about your inquiry, the quicker and more efficiently you can communicate with an IRS representative.

Utilizing Online Resources

In today’s digital age, many government agencies have made efforts to provide online resources that can help individuals find answers without having to make a phone call. The IRS is no exception. Before picking up the phone, consider exploring their website for frequently asked questions (FAQs), tax forms, publications, and other helpful resources.

Additionally, the IRS offers a variety of interactive tools on their website that can assist with common inquiries such as checking refund status or calculating tax payments. By utilizing these resources first, you may be able to find answers without needing to contact an IRS representative directly.

Timing Your Call Strategically

Timing plays a crucial role in minimizing hold times when calling any customer service line, including that of the IRS office. Avoid peak calling hours if possible; Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be busier due to increased post-weekend inquiries.

Consider making your call early in the morning or later in the afternoon, as wait times tend to be shorter during these periods. Avoid calling on major holidays or during tax season, as these are typically the busiest times for the IRS.

Utilizing Automated Phone Systems

The IRS phone system includes automated menus that can help direct you to the appropriate department or service. These menus often provide options for different topics, such as tax return inquiries, payment arrangements, or general questions.

By listening carefully and selecting the appropriate option, you can bypass unnecessary transfers and get connected to the right representative more efficiently. Familiarize yourself with the menu options beforehand so you can navigate through them quickly when making your call.

Minimizing hold times when contacting the IRS office by phone requires preparation, utilization of online resources, strategic timing of your call, and effective use of automated phone systems. By following these proven strategies, you can save valuable time and have a more productive conversation with an IRS representative.

Remember to gather all necessary documents and conduct thorough research before making a call. Explore the IRS website for online resources that may provide answers to your questions without needing a phone call. Time your call strategically by avoiding peak hours and busy periods. Finally, navigate through automated phone menus efficiently to reach the appropriate department.

With these strategies in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to handle your next interaction with the IRS office by phone more effectively and minimize frustrating hold times.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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Column: Holding call ruined the Super Bowl

The NFL has a credibility problem. The so-called stars are in stripes. And officials are not supposed to be the spoiler.

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The holding call should have been put on hold.

Maybe for Flag Day, another time, another place, another moment. The Super Bowl completely lost its breath — and, with that, possible greatness.

It’s what pockets are for. To keep things in until they must be removed.

The NFL doesn’t have a money problem. It has a credibility problem. The so-called stars are in stripes. And officials are supposed to be in a who-done-its appendix, not its denouement, not the spoiler, not so much as a red herring.

We have to stop remembering officials. The thundering hoofs of the zebra herd is heard too often.

Not that The League is alone in its room with officiating. Baseball’s umps believe a ball is a dance and a strike is a union decision. Basketball’s refs wouldn’t call traveling on Rick Steves.

But the NFL plays 17 games, a maximum of 21. One controversial call can ruin a season, or turn what could be a great game, a Super Bowl, no less, into a roadside flat.

What happened at the end of last Sunday’s Super Bowl LVII is happening far too often. The official score is up to the officials.

They are ruining our games, and worse, they are being allowed to. Speaking strictly NFL, it has to get its haughty rear end off its pile of money and do something about it. Some 113 million people watched the Super Bowl, and if they weren’t rooting for Kansas City, their stomachs, full of wings and things, had to feel empty.

Was that a “hold” by Eagles corner James Bradberry on JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Chiefs only receiver who isn’t a tight end? Maybe. Not even Ju Ju, who wildly complained Bradberry was holding him earlier in the game, tried to plead his case. Bradberry admitted he held, which was noble of him.

But so did everyone else, and you don’t throw a flag there unless it’s knock-down ridiculous. It was the only holding call of the game on either side, and there probably were dozens left unsaid.

Those who say it should be called the same late as it is early don’t embrace the occasion. This was a Super Bowl.

As Chick Hearn would say: “Ticky-tack. No harm, no foul.”

It was a classic case of the better team not winning and getting outcoached, but what always will be known as The Flag didn’t cost the Eagles the game. It cost them a chance to win the game. K.C. deserved the win, but Philly didn’t deserve to go out that way.

We, after sitting through an entertaining 58 minutes of football, bad commercials, and a halftime show flop, didn’t deserve it.

We’ll never know if the Eagles could have scored in those final two minutes, but Philly QB Jalen Hurts was the best player on the field, and it would have been dramatic fun to see him try.

The NFL needs a fair-and-square-hard-ass sky judge up in a booth to make the final decisions on the goofs’ crucial calls — and not just in January and February. Maybe a judge would have let the call stand.

But, maybe, just maybe, that judge, for the good of the game — the game at its highest level — would have determined there’s a time and place for everything, and that wasn’t it. It wasn’t enough.

The horses should be allowed to seize the moment. Not the zebras. …

But Rob Ninkovich made a great point on the hold. If your opponents are in white jerseys, don’t wear black gloves. …

Adam Silver says the NBA doesn’t publicize discipline on officials. “We don’t think that will be appropriate.” Why? What makes them so special? …

The Super Bowl MVP was/were “MVPs” — the Chiefs’ offensive line. The League’s best sack bunch Blutarskied. …

But, did the slippery turf affect the Eagles’ rush? Absolutely. K.C.’s too, but not as much. Watch the film. …

Do Zambonis work on lawn? Fabled NFL groundskeeper George Toma , 94, and failing miserably on his final gardening gig, should have ordered one. …

The next Arizona Super Bowl should have cactus turf. It grows freely in the desert and should have a sticky surface. There can be no excuse for spending $800,000 and taking two years to grow a beyond embarrassing surface suitable for Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill . …

Travis “I’m Full Of Something That Doesn’t Smell Good” Kelce : “Not one of y’all said the Chiefs were going to take it home this year.” Not one? This is such tired crap. K.C. had won five straight AFC titles and been to two Super Bowls during that span with Patrick Mahomes . No reason to believe they could win. …

But, there isn’t a quarterback in history who couldn’t have completed those two, beautifully designed short touchdown passes. The DBs were in Tucson. …

It was Andy Reid ’s finest hour, earning him a first-class, first-ballot ticket on the Canton Express. …

The Packers reportedly want Aaron Rodgers to leave and are “disgusted” by him. How? He’s spending four days in darkness. They can’t even see him. …

Know what Aaron’s going to say when he emerges from that dark house? “Six more weeks of winter.” …

Looks like the NFL will eliminate the “quarterback push” the Eagles perfected. Good. Should be banned everywhere. Run the ball on your own. The only one I ever liked was Reggie Bush ’s on Matt Leinart , but that allowed USC to beat Notre Dame, so it was excusable. …

What right does Rob Manfred have to comment on Padres spending? The better question is: Rob, what the hell do you do to make $17.5 million a year? …

Here’s hoping Manny Machado plays baseball better than he’s handling his opt-out, saying there’s a lot of money out there. He should be opting out, and it’s absolutely no surprise. But openly talking money when you make $30 mil per season is unseemly. …

But, do the Pads want to throw Manny shade over what could be such a sunny season? …

Fernando Tatis Jr. has said his favorite position is center field, Petco’s most important territory. That’s where he should be. Put the game’s greatest athlete in center, and let him roam and learn. …

Mike Trout , the forgotten best player in baseball, hopes to convince Shohei Ohtani , the recognized best player in baseball, to remain an Angel. Shohei should convince Mike to leave the Angels. …

MLB again is going with a ghost runner at second base in extra innings during the regular season. As Helen Seinfeld would say: “I hate it like poison.” …

Going to the mattresses. After intense negotiations with MLB, Ortho beats out My Pillow Guy as official base manufacturer. …

Belated Happy Valentine’s Day to Hallmark and See’s. …

Great players — Mahomes and Tom Brady — acting like drunken idiots during championship parades is classic modern American role-modeling. …

Was Tiger ’s handing a tampon to Justin Thomas after outdriving him at Riviera denigrating to women? Yes. Another bad joke by one of the great role models (not one of mine). …

Saw photos of weightlifters the other morning, and looking down at my “Equator” (which is Tom Cushman for midsection), I realized the last time I had a six-pack on me was when I carried beer into a fraternity party.

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• Main content

A controversial holding penalty helped set up the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVII win by draining the final seconds from the Eagles' comeback effort

• The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 to win Super Bowl LVII.
• With the game tied in the final minutes, Eagles cornerback James Bradberry was called for a hold that allowed the Chiefs to seal their win.
• Commentators disliked the call as the contact was light, but Bradberry wasn't surprised with the call.

PHOENIX — The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions once again.

At State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the Chiefs came back from a 24-14 halftime deficit against the Philadelphia Eagles to lift the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in four years.

It was a hotly contested game throughout, but after brilliant feats of athleticism controlled the action for 58 minutes, the final two were spoiled a bit by a soft call from the referees.

After the Eagles tied the game at 35-35 with five minutes left, the Chiefs were driving for a late go-ahead field goal.

Facing 3rd-and-8 from the Eagles' 15-yard line with just 1:54 remaining, Patrick Mahomes overthrew JuJu Smith-Schuster. For a moment, it looked like the Eagles defense had done enough to get the ball back with time to rally once again.

But Philadelphia cornerback James Bradberry, who was covering Smith-Schuster on the play, was flagged for a holding penalty after a quick grab at his jersey.

You can judge the call for yourself here.

—Arye Pulli (@AryePulliTSP) February 13, 2023

Greg Olsen, who was calling the game for Fox, wasn't too pleased with the call.

"James Bradberry, they're going to say that he grabs him. He had his left hand on his back. I don't know."

—Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) February 13, 2023

The call was crucial to the final moments of the game. With the penalty, the Chiefs picked up a free first down, and were able to drain the clock until just eight seconds remained before kicking the go-ahead field goal.

Had the penalty not been called, the Chiefs would have faced 4th and 8, and needed to kick the field goal with just under two minutes still left on the clock. If the flag stays in the referee's pocket, the Eagles would likely have gotten the ball back, trailing by three with one drive to determine which side would be champions.

Instead, the Eagles got possession back with just six seconds left, and their desperate final play fell sadly to the ground.

—Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) February 13, 2023

While the penalty wasn't well-received by some watching the game, especially Eagles supporters, referee Carl Cheffers stood by the call after the game .

"It was a clear case of a jersey grab that caused restriction," Cheffers said. "There was no debate."

Bradberry also didn't disagree with the call, owning to the penalty in the Eagles locker room after the game.

—Ben Volin (@BenVolin) February 13, 2023

Ultimately, this feels like one of those moments where if the rule was technically broken, it was still light, and in the context of the moment, it a frustrating way to end what had been a thrilling Super Bowl. Even NBA star LeBron James, in attendance in Arizona, believed so.

—LeBron James (@KingJames) February 13, 2023

Regardless of Bradberry's grab, the ball was going over Smith-Schuster, and giving the Eagles one more possession to tie or win the game in the final minutes would have made for a thrilling finish befitting the rest of the game.

Instead, the Eagles were left wondering what might have been.

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Three true things about James Bradberry’s holding call in Super Bowl LVII

By matt conner | feb 14, 2023.

We often lose the perspective that more than one thing can be true about a given subject—even defensive holding calls.

There’s the conversation we should be having and the conversation we are having, and it’s a tragedy that these two are not one and the same. That’s because when it comes to Super Bowl LVII, we should be unanimously appreciating it for being one of the single greatest games ever to be played atop the summit of an NFL season.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles gave football fans nearly everything they could have wanted. There was Patrick Mahomes’ injury and the resulting heroism. There was the incredible young phenom in Jalen Hurts proving how bright the future in Philly will be. There was the brilliant first-year coach against the future Hall of Famer. There were two top-ranked teams featuring loads of Pro Bowlers competing for the ultimate prize. Oh yeah, and it went down to the final play of the game.

It was a dream come true for the NFL with ratings results to match. So why aren’t we talking about it as such?

Instead, there’s a call— the call—that will forever be linked with this game, a defensive holding penalty on Eagles cornerback James Bradberry against Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster that allowed a new set of downs and more time to be taken down. That single drain kept Philly from being able to answer the question, “What if?” And no question is as maddening as that one.

In the aftermath, the world of NFL fans has been divided by this single call. Was it right? Was it wrong? How much did it matter? It’s important that we recognize three main truths about this one moment.

Truth No. 1: Carl Cheffers is the worst

It’s a problem that any of us even know who Carl Cheffers is in the first place.

Football officials should be like basketball referees or baseball umpires—unobstrusive figures providing quiet boundaries and logical enforcement who do their best to allow players to do what they signed up to do in the first place: to actually play.

If you, as a sports fan, are aware of any official or ref or umpire by name, then that means there’s something wrong, that something has been broken or altered between what that person is supposed to be/do and what they are actively being/doing. But occasionally, there is that figure, that arbitrator, who has a penchant for making himself a part of the conversation, placing himself more central to the action on the field than he ever should have in the first place

We knew this going in about Cheffers.

All of this is important because Cheffers is once again a part of the discussion, lodged distinctly into the memory of a matchup, and this time it’s more than frustrating—it’s just wrong. It’s wrong on multiple fronts for multiple reasons and the resulting emotions are so divisive that it’s hard for some of us to see, or at least give credit to, the validity of any other position involved here.

Gear Up, Champs. Shop KC Super Bowl Champions Merch NOW.

But, yes, it’s true that Cheffers is a problem and it’s made even worse because we all knew this even before Super Bowl LVII.

Truth No. 2: The call was correct

The NFL is not immune to insane calls. Hell, even trying to figure out whether or not something is a “catch” requires some sort of graphing calculator from Texas Instruments, the game-used gloves of Dwayne Bowe, and an ouija board. We’ve all watched phantom calls affect our favorite teams, and we’ve also watched the flip side happen—an egregious foul or hit or pull or tug obviously affects the game but the official is too busy looking up Gracie Hunt pageant photos.

However, this holding call, the frustrating one on the biggest stage of all, is not one of them.

Look, you can say, from your well-worn faux leather armchair with built-in cupholders, that you saw the play and nothing happened. That doesn’t change the fact that both the offender and the offended agree on the facts—that Bradberry committed a defensive holding penalty on Smith-Schuster. Bradberry  admitted as much after the game and even said that he simply hoped he’d get away with it. Smith-Schuster also said they called it right.

Here’s Bradberry: “It was a holding. I tugged his jersey. I was hoping they would let it slide.” That’s a simple three-part statement guiding any naysayer to the truth that should silence anyone who wants to scream full-throatedly that they know otherwise.

Truth No. 3: The Eagles lost for other reasons

By now, we’ve affirmed that Bradberry was guilty but that Cheffers is sh*tty and somehow both of those are true at the same time. Now let’s add one more truth to the tension: the Eagles didn’t lose because Bradberry decided he wanted to see how much he could get away with defensively.

The Eagles lost to the Chiefs because Andy Reid figured out how to peel that defense away from his scheme like a ripe banana. The Eagles lost to the Chiefs because they didn’t put up a single sack on Patrick Mahomes, even though he was playing on an ankle manufactured by my son’s Playdough Make-A-Meal. The Eagles lost because they gave up well over half of a first down every time the Chiefs ran the football. The Eagles lost because the Chiefs converted 80 percent of their red zone attempts against a defense that was talked about more than a vegan talking about veganism.

Did it help? No. Did it hurt? Sure. Was the body already well on the way to the mortuary? Absolutely. Bradberry’s holding call was a paper cut on a victim bleeding out. Anyone who wants to point and say “that’s the reason why the Eagles lost” only turned on the game for the few seconds Carl Cheffers wanted to violate the norms of his post.

Sorry but that’s the truth.

Next. Ranking the top 5 draft classes in Chiefs history. dark

Some NFL Fans Not Happy With Controversial Late Holding Call In Second Consecutive Super Bowl

By James Rodgers

February 13, 2023

The past two Super Bowls—otherwise outstanding games—have been mired in late drama concerning NFL officiating. A holding penalty on Eagles cornerback James Bradberry against JuJu Smith-Schuster basically sealed the game for the Chiefs. It felt very reminiscent of the phantom holding call against Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson last season . In both cases, it was almost like fans and players didn’t think anything of the play until a flag was thrown and the yellow graphic shown on the screen. And on top of it, whether justified or not, fans were already upset with the AFC Championship Game officiating this season .

The Wilson call in Super Bowl LVI was arguably clearly worse, but the way Super Bowl LVII ended also feels disappointing. Here’s some of the top reaction to the Bradberry holding call.

Hmmm these holding calls at the end of superbowls are crazy. — Dj Reader (@Djread98) February 13, 2023

Hey @NFLOfficiating CAN’T HAVE IT — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 13, 2023

Absolutely awful penalty Horrible call — Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) February 13, 2023

Are you kidding me? Another SUPER suspect holding call deciding the end of the SuperBowl 🧐🤔 — CJ Uzomah (@cj_uzomah) February 13, 2023

Been letting them boys play all day and now y’all wanna do that bs… smdh — Jermaine Johnson II (@ii_jermaine) February 13, 2023

A reminder: three days ago we were told the NFL officiating has never been better. — Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 13, 2023

Usually don’t get involved in ripping referees but HATE that defensive holding call on Bradberry. 35-35 late on a 3rd down incompletion on what was a marginal foul??? Let em play man!! Bad call-hate that is what many will take away from this game. — Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) February 13, 2023

Just like last year, my issue is this: There were ZERO calls for defensive holding before Bradberry was flagged. Zero. All game. Players play to the game that's being called. The infraction, such as it was, was far from egregious. Just can't call it. Cannot. Frustrating. — Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) February 13, 2023

Refs win the bowl again — Eli Apple (@EliApple) February 13, 2023

Should’ve let that go to 4th down and let the best team earn it. Man I feel for them boys. For that whole season to end on a call like that is crazy. — Jermaine Johnson II (@ii_jermaine) February 13, 2023

🤔 — Logan Wilson (@ljw21) February 13, 2023

#Bengals fans #Eagles fans 🤝 Getting hosed late in the Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/xStPHcDISl — 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 (@BengalsCaptain) February 13, 2023

Bradberry himself admitted that he did pull the jersey of JuJu:

Eagles CB James Bradberry on the holding penalty ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/fo6mgi9YrL — FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 13, 2023

But Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie came out and gave about as strong of a statement against the call as you’ll hear from a team owner:

In the losing locker room, #Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie told me, “I thought we deserved to have a chance to win the game in the final couple of minutes.” It was an oblique shot at the refs. But in truth, his team was the lesser team in #SuperBowlLVII : https://t.co/08nqCFvUIG — Mike Sielski (@MikeSielski) February 13, 2023

We won’t even get into the liability Vegas had for an Eagles win and over the point total . It’s unfortunate that even becomes a discussion because of shaky calls like this.

You could say the Philly defense did not play well in the second half and should’ve made a stop earlier. Still, it’s tough for NFL fans to see two consecutive Super Bowls end—though the Bengals did have more of a chance on offense last year than the Eagles—on questionable (at best) holding penalties that came in games where the officials were letting the players play and then suddenly make humungous calls on a final drive for an offense.

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An Anticlimactic Super Bowl Ending Blew the NFL’s Night Apart

The NFL, for all its controversy, for all its cultural ubiquity, for all its violence , is a meticulously orderly organization. Even when the league is under fire for one thing or another — which it always is — it never feels as if anything is in danger of careening into chaos. The league is too powerful, too efficient , not to be firmly in control of all things.

This is particularly true at the Super Bowl, the one game still watched by people who don’t care about football, by people who even loathe football. Every story line gets streamlined at the Super Bowl with all the complexity sanded off and turned into “Everything is fine, just enjoy the game” propaganda. Damar Hamlin , whose on-field heart attack in week 16 led to some viewers (briefly) questioning whether they could ever watch a football game again, sat next to commissioner Roger Goodell in a skybox and became a feel-good story the NFL absolutely 100 percent did not deserve. The ongoing lawsuit filed by Brian Flores that claims racial discrimination in head-coach hiring was displaced by the inspiring tale of the first Super Bowl with two Black starting quarterbacks (a fact the NFL was patting itself on the back about all week but which, in a just universe, would evoke great shame) and “End Racism” painted in the end zone (next to, uh, the name “Chiefs”). The disgusting way the United States government and the NFL treated the family of slain player turned soldier Pat Tillman became yet another pro-military moment in a mutually beneficial partnership that has lasted for decades . The Super Bowl is a live sporting event, and that comes with built-in unpredictability. But everything other than the game is as stage-managed as an Apple product-release presentation.

Which is why, as infuriating as the ending of Super Bowl LVII was, it also felt a little like just desserts. The Kansas City Chiefs ended up beating the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 on Sunday night with a drama-free field goal from Harrison Butker in the waning seconds of the game. This followed an incredible offensive performance from already Hall of Famer Patrick Mahomes, who overcame a high-ankle sprain to play an almost perfect second half against the best defense in football, including a fourth-quarter sprint that should have been the play this game would be remembered for. Instead, a different, far less glorious moment will mark this Super Bowl.

You saw the play and the call:

One could conceivably make the argument that this was the correct call from referee Carl Cheffers. The Eagles player, James Bradberry, had his hand on the back of Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and may have even closed his first in a “hold” motion. If that call came in the second quarter of a random regular-season Cardinals-Titans game, you’d hear the fan base of the team the call went against grouse for a moment, probably boo before the next snap — “Cheap call, refs” — and then forget about it.

But Cheffer’s call came on the third down of a tie game in the closing minutes of the Super Bowl , a Super Bowl that, with the wild crowd, Rhianna’s excellent halftime performance, and the two QBs’ heroics, was beginning to approach legendary status. If the call hadn’t been made — and no one would have even noticed if it hadn’t: You didn’t see the Chiefs receiver, or any of the Chiefs, protesting before the (late) flag was thrown — we would have never thought about it. The Chiefs would have kicked a field goal, and the Eagles would have driven down the field in the closing moments to try to tie or win it, and this face melter of a Super Bowl might have included an ending for the ages.

That is not what happened.

The flag was thrown. Eagles fans scratched their eyeballs out. The Chiefs then ran down the clock, which included purposely not trying to score a touchdown in the final seconds of a Super Bowl, which feels against the natural order of the universe — and kicked an easy, dull field goal, and then this game was just … over. There was no drama. There was no conclusion. There was just a slow, sad letting of air out of a balloon, a flaccid gasp of an ending. And everyone, including LeBron James , was unsatisfied.

The question of whether a referee should throw a flag in a moment like that is interesting philosophically. On one hand, he’s not there to judge the gravitas of a particular moment, to suss out its drama, to worry about whether the NFL is putting on a maximally efficient show. The referee is there to call the game, period. He saw a hold on the play, and he called it. (And Bradberry admitted to the holding afterward.)

On the other hand … oh, for fuck’s sake, man.

The NFL had a perfect story for its perfect night. But its maddening, erratic, “entertaining precisely because it’s so unpredictable” game got in the way. If the NFL had been in control on field the way it is off field, it would have zapped the ref right before he threw the flag, giving everyone the epic finale we were expecting and desperately hoping for. (They may zap him postgame anyway.) Instead, the ref — and, really, the game of football itself — blew the whole thing up. It’s endlessly frustrating. We’ll talk about it forever. We’ll yell at the NFL every time it shows up in highlights. But this is how it works. This is what sports are. Sometimes sports are glorious; sometimes we get our storybook ending. And sometimes sports cut us off at the knees at the worst, stupidest possible time. The NFL got something unforgettable on its Super Bowl Sunday, something it won’t be able to sand away. It was an incredible game; congratulations to the Chiefs. But also: For fuck’s sake, man.

• kansas city chiefs
• philadelphia eagles

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Nfl fans react to the brutal holding call that decided super bowl lvii, share this article.

Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts delivered a Super Bowl thriller for the ages, but a controversial holding call in the final minutes robbed fans of a do-or-die final drive and led to an anticlimactic chip shot field goal for the Chiefs to win a second championship in the last four seasons.

Facing a 3rd-and-8 at the Eagles’ 15-yard line, Patrick Mahomes lofted a pass that went too deep for JuJu Smith-Schuster to catch – but a flag was thrown on James Bradberry for defensive holding. The penalty gave the Chiefs a first down, and with the Eagles down to one timeout, allowed Kansas City to kill the clock.

Bradberry, after the game , did admit that he tugged on Smith-Schuster’s jersey.

Harrison Butker made a game-winning 27-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining, and Jalen Hurts’ one shot at a miracle pass fell incomplete.

Replays showed that Bradberry did make contact with Smith-Schuster – but in a game where the officials had largely let the players play, and with a Super Bowl on the line, fans couldn’t believe the call.

This was called holding Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/9FzVFXkD9Q — PFF (@PFF) February 13, 2023

Are you kidding me? Another SUPER suspect holding call deciding the end of the SuperBowl 🧐🤔 — CJ Uzomah (@cj_uzomah) February 13, 2023

Back-to-back Super Bowls with iffy third-down defensive holding calls in the red zone in the final 2 minutes. — Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) February 13, 2023

Softest holding call I’ve seen in some time. Might cost a team a Super Bowl. — Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 13, 2023

When the Super Bowl script calls for a defensive holding allowing for the Chiefs to kick a game winning field goal pic.twitter.com/DEdCi6C6pI — Trent (@Trenciarte) February 13, 2023

Usually don’t get involved in ripping referees but HATE that defensive holding call on Bradberry. 35-35 late on a 3rd down incompletion on what was a marginal foul??? Let em play man!! Bad call-hate that is what many will take away from this game. — Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) February 13, 2023

Roger Goodell said ““I think for us, when you look at officiating, I don’t think it’s ever been better in the league” pic.twitter.com/MaUJsB4PwZ — Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) February 13, 2023

Hate to see such a great SB turn on a ticky tack holding call. That was super minor. — Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) February 13, 2023

Sorry but I don’t like that call! Not for the Super Bowl man! 🤦🏾‍♂️ — LeBron James (@KingJames) February 13, 2023

His hand on his back had no effect on his route! This game was too damn good for that call to dictate the outcome at the end. Damn! By the way I have no horse in the race. Just my professional opinion — LeBron James (@KingJames) February 13, 2023

That's a terrible penalty and the game is going to essentially end because of it. NFL officiating ruined an all-time classic. — Ryan Talbot (@RyanTalbotBills) February 13, 2023

Absolutely awful penalty Horrible call — Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) February 13, 2023

DEFINITELY NOT A PENALTY ON BRADBERRY. — Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 13, 2023

The guys who wrote the penalty ending script. pic.twitter.com/AGnEN6uArW — Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) February 13, 2023

Penalty was NOT “clear & obvious” yet the @NFL officials had to make it about them. Ball was NOT even catchable which has me baffled with that law and why not have the ability to challenge bad calls. They can but have they ever overturned them?! #SuperBowl — Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) February 13, 2023

Decisive holding penalty called on the Eagles. It's an incredibly lame way for this game to be decided but can also see a (very slight) jersey tug pic.twitter.com/l7TJjVF2eo — Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) February 13, 2023

• Minimal contact • Zero restriction • Ball uncatchable Biggest play of the game and the referee makes it about himself — Will Compton (@_willcompton) February 13, 2023

James Bradberry takes accountability for his controversial penalty. “It was a holding. I tugged on the jersey.” pic.twitter.com/YqT7wsAzMY — Ben Volin (@BenVolin) February 13, 2023

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• Los Angeles Rams Fan Forum

dieterbrock wrote: 9 penalties for the Rams is not exactly “letting them play” That said, the Goff late throw to Cooks, the miss on wide open Reynolds and the Cooks drop/DPI are much more haunting to me.

DirtyFacedKid wrote: I'm gonna catch hate for this, but we really shouldn't be saying anything about penalties or non-calls for a long time. It's just not a good look. It was our performance and missed opportunities. Plain and simple.

Elvis wrote: Belichick keeping his eye on McVay...

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