Controversial officiating calls during the first quarter of the Super Bowl sparked debate amid conspiracy theories swirling on social media that had been alleging favoritism toward the Kansas City Chiefs. The opening drive controversy began when a 32-yard pass from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to A.J. Brown was nullified by a penalty for Brown's facemask contact with Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie. Fox officiating analyst Mike Pereira argued the call was unwarranted. On the Eagles' subsequent possession, a similar penalty against the Chiefs favored Philadelphia, following an incomplete pass to Dallas Goedert where McDuffie again made facemask contact
These calls fueled speculation about biased officiating in favor of Kansas City, a narrative that had already been dismissed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as "ridiculous," and labeled as "insulting" by the head of the officiating union. Three plays after the Goedert penalty, Hurts ran for a 1-yard touchdown, marking the first score of the game. Further complicating the quarter, the Eagles later benefited from another Kansas City penalty; Charles Omenihu received a penalty for being in the neutral zone, which nullified a crucial third-down sack. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)