The Philadelphia Eagles once again proved why they remain one of the NFL’s most complete teams, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 28–22 in a thrilling Sunday clash. But even after the loss, one Vikings legend couldn’t stay silent about what he saw on the field.
In an emotional post-game interview, Hall of Famer Cris Carter admitted that despite his heartbreak over Minnesota’s defeat, the officiating crew seemed to lean against Philadelphia throughout the game.
“I’m heartbroken that the Vikings lost, but honestly, if not for the referees, the Eagles probably would’ve beaten us by even more,”
Carter said. “It feels like officiating bias has become part of football itself. And yet, even with some calls going against them, the Eagles still stood tall and earned that win fair and square.”
Fans quickly pointed to two controversial calls that fueled Carter’s remarks. The first came on a false-start penalty during the Eagles’ trademark “Tush Push” on 3rd-and-1 — a play that’s nearly automatic for quarterback
Jalen Hurts. Officials flagged Philadelphia for a premature movement, negating what appeared to be an easy first down and pushing them back five yards.
Eagles called for a false start on a tush push
Moments later, another questionable moment arrived when Eagles linebacker was flagged for pass interference near the end zone, granting Minnesota a huge gain and an eventual score. Both plays triggered outrage on social media, where fans accused officials of being overly harsh toward the defending NFC powerhouse.
Still, no amount of whistles could overshadow Hurts’ flawless performance: 18-of-21 passing, 281 yards, 3 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
His precision kept the Vikings defense guessing, while A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for 259 receiving yards and three TDs, carving up Minnesota’s secondary in spectacular fashion.
Despite the officiating drama, the Eagles’ composure and dominance spoke louder than any flag. Carter’s words captured what many already believed — that even when challenged by the refs,
Philadelphia’s fight, focus, and firepower made the difference.
And as one fan commented under Carter’s quote, “If that’s the NFL trying to slow the Eagles down, good luck. You can’t flag greatness forever.”