The second half of the Super Bowl started with a bang.
On the first play from scrimmage, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looked to receiver Tee Higgins down the left sideline. He found him. Higgins beat Los Angeles Rams All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey on deep route and cruised into the end zone for 75-yard touchdown to give the Bengals a 17-13 lead.
It was a stunning play against one of the game’s elite cover corners who’d already given up a big catch to Ja’Marr Chase in the first half. In this case, it turns out Higgins got away with one.
Ramsey immediately protested to officials after the touchdown. A replay angle shows why. Before the ball arrived, Higgins grabbed a handful of Ramsey’s facemask and jerked his head to the side. Ramsey, who was in tight coverage before the grab, fell to the turf before Higgins hauled in the pass and ran into the end zone untouched.
It was as obvious as penalties get in the NFL. And officials missed it on a game-changing play in the Super…
..