Officials acknowledge another significant error regarding the Broncos’ backward pass decision.

Referee Offers Insights on Controversial Call in AFC Championship

The New England Patriots capitalized on a pivotal moment in their comeback against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Championship on Sunday. After the game, one of the referees revealed that there was a separate officiating error that went unnoticed.

Referee Alex Kemp spoke about a specific incident in the second quarter involving quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Stidham was penalized for intentional grounding on an incomplete forward pass. This unfolded just before a call against the Broncos’ QB was reversed due to a recovered backwards pass by the Patriots. When questioned about an “inadvertent whistle” that halted the play—despite New England recovering the ball and scoring—Kemp explained, “The whistle did stop play, but only after a New England player picked up the ball.”

Had the play continued without interruption, Patriots linebacker Elijah Ponder’s touchdown might not have been ruled out. According to analysis from Pro Football Talk, video replays could have prompted a change in the earlier backward pass call to an incompletion.

The Patriots tied the game shortly afterward at 7-7, then took the lead with a field goal in the third quarter, eventually clenching victory and securing a spot in the Super Bowl for the first time since 2019.

Kemp elaborated on the second-quarter reversal, stating that he initially deemed it a forward pass, which he recognized was incorrect. After consulting with his colleagues, they ruled that New England had recovered the backward pass and awarded possession without an opportunity to advance.

Stidham, filling in for the injured Bo Nix, reflected on the situation, saying, “I thought I threw it forward, but obviously the replays showed otherwise.” He added, vaguely, “Maybe I should have just let it go and taken the hit.”