Football games are long, and you can’t blame a win or loss on a single play. But one play absolutely can send a game on a different trajectory. So with that in mind, Kyle Shanahan probably wishes he threw that red challenge flag on Sunday.
During the first quarter of the NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia, the Eagles opted to go for it early on fourth and three. That was when Jalen Hurts connected with DeVonta Smith for what ended up being a sensational, one-handed catch to convert for a first down.
There was just one problem: The ball clearly hit the ground.
The Devonta Smith one-handed catch should've actually been incomplete as the ball clearly hit the ground. Eagles hurried to the line, seems like the 49ers didn't get the correct angle in time. Huge, huge miss.pic.twitter.com/efJ9pmb3sC
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 29, 2023
The Niners either didn’t get a good look at the play or the Eagles simply managed to get another play off before Shanahan could challenge it. Smith’s reaction should have been enough, though, to warrant a challenge even if the staff upstairs wasn’t sure. The Eagles were sprinting to get a play off.
Either way, the miss was costly because the Eagles ended up scoring a touchdown on the drive when it really should have been a turnover on downs.
Fans weren’t particularly kind to the Niners either about that missed challenge opportunity.