Charlie Riedel/AP Images
Damien Williams' go-ahead touchdown was close to not counting.
- The Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers, 31-20, in Super Bowl 2020.
- Running back Damien Williams scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:44 left, extending the ball over the goal line as he ran out of bounds.
- The play was reviewed and showed that he may have had his toe out of bounds as the ball broke the plane in the end zone, but ultimately, there wasn't enough to overturn the call.
- Read more of Business Insider's Super Bowl 2020 coverage here.
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The Kansas City Chiefs' game-winning touchdown over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 2020 was as narrow as they come.
Trailing the 49ers, 20-17, with under three minutes remaining, from 3rd-and-goal, Patrick Mahomes tossed a short pass to the right to running back Damien Williams. Williams took it to the end zone, reaching the ball over the goal line as he ran out of bounds, avoiding contract with oncoming Niners defenders.
What initially looked like an easy touchdown revealed itself to be extremely close to coming up short upon replay.
As Williams extended his arms to reach over the goal line, his left foot stepped out of bounds.
Here's the play:
The referees reviewed the play to see whether Williams had stepped out of bounds before the ball broke the plane.
It was about as close a call as could be made:
via Fox/NFL
As NFL rules expert Mike Pereira said on the broadcast, the play was likely too close for the referees to overrule the touchdown. Ultimately, the referees agreed, giving the Chiefs the go-ahead score.
The NFL world agreed with the refs while also noting that it may have been too close to definitively know.
The Chiefs took a 24-20 lead, then came up with a crucial stop on defense to get the ball back, and seal the win with a 38-yard run from Williams to boost the Chiefs' lead to 31-20.
Still, the contingent of football fans who want better technology, like a chip in the ball, to better determine where the ball lands won't be quieted after Super Bowl 2020.
- Read more:
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Really close, but when foot is out the nose of the ball may be breaking plane. To me it has to stand.
- Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) February 3, 2020Not enough to overturn it.
- ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 3, 2020Close but hard to overturn
- Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) February 3, 2020Crazy close on the Damien Williams TD.
I'd say not enough to overturn it.
- Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) February 3, 2020I think he's a tiny bit short but not sure that's enough to overturn
- Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) February 3, 2020As close as it gets
- Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) February 3, 2020