Eagles May Have Lined Up In Illegal Formation On Foles TD Reception
MINNEAPOLIS (CBSNewYork) -- Arguably the play of the game in Super Bowl LII came near the end of the first half, when the Eagles used some trickery to score on a 1-yard touchdown pass from tight end Trey Burton to quarterback Nick Foles. (Yes, you read that right. A tight end threw a TD pass to a quarterback.)
But Matt Chatham, a color commentator for ESPN college football and the New England Sports Network, noted on Twitter during the game that the play perhaps should have never counted.
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The Eagles appeared to only have six men on the line of scrimmage, which would make it an illegal formation. The image tweeted by Chatham shows the wide receiver at the top of the screen seemingly lined up too far back.
The fourth down trick play TS to Nick Foles was an illegal formation, should have been called back...extended WR to the top of the screen is off the ball (needs to be on the line with just the OT on inside him). #SB52 #Eagles #Patriots pic.twitter.com/tdX7hIpiGu
— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) February 5, 2018
An NFL source, however, told Pro Football Talk that the league views it as a judgment call and that the official apparently thought the wide receiver was lined up close enough to the spot where the right tackle was standing.
The TD pass, which came on fourth-and-1, gave the Eagles a 22-12 halftime lead. Philadelphia held on to win, 41-33, capturing their first Super Bowl title in franchise history and first NFL championship since 1960.