Minneapolis, MN – October 20, 2025
After the Philadelphia Eagles’ 28–22 win over the Minnesota Vikings, the postgame talk wasn’t just about Jalen Hurts’ perfection or A.J. Brown’s dominance — it was about the referees. And this time, it wasn’t a player, but ESPN’s fiery analyst
Stephen A. Smith who delivered the truth.
“The refs were on the Vikings’ side, but it still couldn’t change the outcome,” Stephen A. declared on First Take. “The Eagles earned every single point they scored. They controlled the game on both sides of the ball, and no number of calls could’ve changed that. Sometimes, you just have to admit when the better team wins.”
His comments came after several highly questionable officiating decisions that, according to many fans, leaned heavily toward Minnesota — yet failed to derail Philadelphia’s dominance.
The first controversy erupted during the
third-and-one “Tush Push” play in the first half. Quarterback Jalen Hurts lined up for what’s become a nearly automatic first down, but officials flagged the Eagles for a false start
, claiming premature movement on the offensive line. The penalty wiped out the play and pushed them back five yards, igniting frustration across social media. A viral post from Rate the Refs
read, “Eagles called for a false start on a Tush Push? That’s a first — and a soft one at that.”
Eagles called for a false start on a tush push
pic.twitter.com/mVUPdHVYBW — Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) October 19, 2025
Just minutes later, another questionable flag appeared. Near the end zone, an Eagles linebacker was penalized for pass interference on a play where contact appeared minimal. The call set up a short field for Minnesota, leading directly to a touchdown that kept them in the game. Once again, fans were outraged. As one X user wrote,
“These refs want Minnesota to win so bad — it’s embarrassing.”
Eagles flagged for pass interference pic.twitter.com/BwcRbC5kq8
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) October 19, 2025
Despite those calls, the Eagles refused to crack. Hurts delivered one of the finest performances of his career, finishing
18-of-21 for 281 yards, three touchdowns, and a perfect 158.3 QB rating. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for 259 receiving yards and three scores, tearing through the Vikings’ defense with ease.
Even with the officiating drama, Philadelphia’s focus never wavered. They controlled the clock, dictated the pace, and executed at every level — offense, defense, and special teams. Stephen A.’s remarks summed up what millions of viewers already believed:
no amount of whistles could stop a team this locked in.
As one fan put it perfectly beneath his quote: “If that’s what biased refs look like, imagine what Philly would’ve done with a fair game.”
