If the NFL wants to put to rest the narrative that the Chiefs are receiving favorable calls from referees, it will have to wait.
A key potentially game-changing moment occurred in the fourth quarter of Sunday's AFC Championship game between the Bills and the Chiefs, when the Chiefs' fourth-down conversion attempt was ruled short of a first down. handed the ball to
With Buffalo holding a 22-21 lead at Arrowhead Stadium, Josh Allen tried to sneak the ball with four outs and first base. It appeared that Allen had gained enough yards after getting a push from his teammates, but the referees deemed the ball short and gave the ball to the Chiefs.
Kansas City scored on its next possession and converted a two-point conversion to take a 29-22 lead.
The Chiefs won 32-29, keeping their hopes of winning a historic third consecutive Super Bowl alive.
The spot used by officials was questionable, with color commentator Tony Romo and CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore questioning the call on the air.
“I think he earned it,” Steratore said on the air.
“So did I,” Romo replied.
Replays seemed to lend credence to the idea that the ball crossed the first down line, and one of the officials appeared ready to spot the ball in the Bills' first down position.
This situation arose after another controversial call made by Xavier Worthy to catch the ball late in the first half even though it appeared to have hit the ground.
None of this did the league or the Chiefs any favors in that there was a widespread perception that the officiating favored Kansas City.
Patrick Mahomes tried to counter that in a meeting with reporters earlier this week.
“The referees are doing their best to make the game as fair and appropriate as possible,” Mahomes said at a news conference.
The Chiefs advanced to play the Eagles in the Super Bowl on February 9th in New Orleans.
