The Philadelphia Eagles are facing the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The Birds have taken a lead. Wide receiver and Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith scored the first touchdown of the day. But we are not even five minutes into the game and are witnessing one of the biggest controversies of the day. When fans saw the spectacular catch, they could not stop themselves from expressing their awe. However, after getting a closer look, popular analysts, players, and fans realized that something fishy was transpiring on the field. 

The remarkable catch took place in the first quarter from the 49ers’ 35-yard line. The Eagles could have gone for a long field goal on fourth-and-3. However, they went for the first down. And that is where the problem started. 

Was it even a complete pass that DeVonta Smith caught?

Quarterback Jalen Hurts escaped and scanned the sideline for the receiver. A couple of 49ers defenders surrounded him. But Smith saw the shit coming at him and sprung to catch the ball with one hand at the 6-yard line. It was a too-good-to-be-true moment. And the replay only confirmed the reality of the catch. 

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But fans and many prominent personalities could not stop themselves from reacting to the impressive play.

The Dallas Cowboys linebacker wrote:

Former quarterback and another Heisman Trophy-winner wrote:

Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend said:

It was only after a slow-motion replay that showed that the 29-year-old didn’t maintain control of the catch. It went to the ground.

After this, many fans started questioning the authenticity of the play.

One wrote:

Former football punter and sports commentator Pat McAfee asked:

If the play was reviewed, it would have been easily overturned. However, that did not happen which led Smith to rush his teammates to the line of scrimmage. Therefore, this showed that the WR knew he didn’t catch the ball.

Not challenging the DeVont Smith play will definitely prove expensive to the Sam Francisco 49ers. All the head coach of the team had to do was drop a flag to challenge the reception. Since the ball touched the ground, it was an incomplete pass instead of a spectacular catch. It was a lost opportunity. All in all, the play should have never happened. 

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