The whole world could see Trent Williams holding Nolan Smith on the play that ended up deciding the Philadelphia Eagles‘ playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, even though no flag was thrown on the play.
But the 49ers’ veteran left tackle shot back at those Eagles fans complaining about the missed call, saying he “didn’t see a flag” while addressing the press ahead of San Francisco’s upcoming game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.
The missed call — by referee Alan Eck and umpire Paul King — was both a crucial miss and cause for much consternation from Eagles fans across the nation this week.
It also, in part, led to systemic changes with the Eagles, since offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was demoted after the Eagles’ season-ending loss at home — their first since 2019.
Trent Williams Did Not Apologize For Holding Nolan Smith
Williams, the 12-time Pro Bowler, may have a reputation that he is maintaining, since he was only called for holding once in his 16 games this season. He has only been flagged for holding nine times in the past four seasons and just 43 times in his 204-game NFL career.
So when asked about the uproar involving his missed holding call, Williams drummed up an analogy that many speed demons on the PA Pike or any of the other Philadelphia-area highways could certainly identify with.
“I didn’t see a flag,” Williams said to laughs among 49ers reporters. “You only get a speeding ticket when you get pulled over, right?”
Trent Williams Clearly Held Nolan Smith On The Game-Winning Touchdown Pass
At 37 years old, Williams is still one of the best offensive linemen in the game. But he’s also a cagey veteran who has been in the NFL for more than a decade has surely learned tricks to get away with holding.
Still, Williams’ obvious grab and twist on Smith, the Eagles EDGE rusher, gave quarterback Brock Purdy an extra second to step up and find Christian McCaffrey on third-and-goal from the 4-yard line. It should have been called holding.
If Williams had been cited, the Niners would have had third and goal from the 14-yard line and likely would have only kicked a field goal.
Depending on where they spotted the field goal, it may not have been a gimme amid the strong winds at Lincoln Financial Field. Though 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro made a 36-yard field goal earlier in the game, he missed the subsequent extra point after McCaffrey’s touchdown, which was right about the spot where he would have been attempting the field goal.
Plus even if Pineiro made the field goal, San Francisco would have led 20-19 with about three minutes left. The Eagles would have only needed a field goal to go back in front.
Philadelphia pushed the ball to the San Francisco 21-yard line on its subsequent drive, well within kicker Jake Elliott’s range. But needing a touchdown rather than a field goal, it stalled out on 4th-and-11 when Jalen Hurts’ throw intended for Dallas Goedert fell incomplete.
49ers’ Trent Williams Fires Back at Eagles Fans Complaining About Missed Holding Call