It didn’t turn into a 3rd and 18. It turned into a 4th and 8, because they magically picked up a flag that they threw. If you threw it, why’d you pick it up? So the only real penalty was the hold on 61, which of course they declined, and it’s punt time.
Off topic, but as usual, the call made no sense. We don’t throw the ball downfield the whole game, and Beck is throwing the ball well in the intermediate game. He had several 3rd and medium conversions in the game. But on the biggest play of the game, let’s throw a low percentage pass 40 yards downfield. Where was that ball for the first 3.9 quarters? It wasn’t a perfect throw either, but Marion had at least half a step and he was getting held for 10 yards. 8 yards literally ends the game. We don’t need 48. We just need 8. More **** that just doesn’t make sense from a strategic standpoint.
And all that to say, it should’ve worked because the ref obviously saw the holds, because he threw the flag, and the Cici hold was complete phantom bull****. I just don’t think that’s your best call in that situation.