Many NFL observers and fans blamed the poor field conditions in Super Bowl LVII on Phoenix’s State Farm Stadium.
The NFL reportedly is blaming another culprit: The Philadelphia Eagles.
Pro Football Talk reported Monday that a source said the NFL “blames the players for not wearing the right shoes” in their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
First off, there is no denying the field conditions were bad, and they quickly became a talking point during the game. While the conditions affected players on both teams, they were generally seen to have hurt the Eagles more, by neutralizing their pass rush.
As far as blaming the Eagles for wearing the wrong cleats, the players changed cleats during the game and it still made no difference.
Also, conditions at the stadium had been an issue in earlier games, including the Chiefs’ season-opener versus the Arizona Cardinals, when kicker Harrison Butker slipped on a kickoff and sprained his ankle, forcing him to miss a month. The field was also a problem during the Dec. 31 Fiesta Bowl CFP Semifinal between Michigan and TCU.
Fans weren’t buying the NFL’s excuse for the slippery field.