
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game on Sunday, 32-29. It seems like the Bills getting bounced by Patrick Mahomes and company is an annual tradition at this point.
The game, though, as is often the case with any involving the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, was not without controversy.
There were several notable, controversial calls from last night’s game that left fans grumbling on social media about the perceived favoritism the officials seem to be delivering for the Chiefs.
The NFL already has a narrative problem when you realize Kansas City’s success is suspect due to the league’s fascination with promoting Taylor Swift’s presence at games to generate interest and sell tickets. (Gracie Hunt thinks the fan base has grown some 40% thanks to Taylor, for example.)
Add in the fact that they’ll be playing the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, and you realize the league and networks get to oversaturate your TV screens with the Kelce brothers as per usual, and, well, the WWE would be envious of these storylines.
Are The Refs All In On The Chiefs?
The league’s biggest problem right now is that the officiating keeps helping the Chiefs out in crucial situations.
The officiating issue has been lingering for years, particularly this season when the Chiefs won a vast majority of their games (15 Ws) by one score or less. When games had the potential to hinge on a beneficial call or two.
Last night was no different. Here are some of the most egregious calls or non-calls from the refs benefitting the Chiefs in the AFC title game:
During a Chiefs’ touchdown where Travis Kelce was blocking Damar Hamlin, post-score, Kelce engaged in jawing with Hamlin. This led to Bills’ Jordan Phillips hitting Kelce, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Phillips rather than a taunting penalty on Kelce, which could have been justified but wasn’t called. (Also, nice flop, Trav.)
Bills called for unsportsmanlike conduct. Kelce was talking in Hamlin's face. Phillips came over and hit Kelce in the helmet and got flagged pic.twitter.com/DjjlFZ94V0
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) January 27, 2025
On a third-and-5 play at the Buffalo 29-yard line, Mahomes threw a deep pass to Xavier Worthy. The Bills challenged the pass completion ruling, but the catch was upheld. On no planet was this a catch – the ball hit the ground before clear possession by either Worthy or the defender.
🚨🚨🚨THREAD….🧵🧵🧵
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 27, 2025
THE #CHIEFS ARE HEADING BACK TO THE SUPER BOWL AFTER ONE OF THE WORST OFFICIATED GAMES IN #NFL HISTORY.
THE #BILLS GOT SCREWED BY THE REFS, 10 OF THE WORST CALLS EVER…
1) THE REFS SOMEHOW RULED THIS A CATCH FOR KC…
WILD😳😳😳pic.twitter.com/11W0RqKXKo
Early in the fourth quarter, with the Bills leading 22-21, they faced a fourth-and-1 at the Kansas City 41-yard line. Josh Allen attempted a quarterback sneak. One ref signaled first down before another ran from the sidelines and made a different assessment. Replays suggested that Allen gained just enough yardage.
The ref who called the play short was behind the line to begin with, and couldn’t see the ball, whereas the other ref could. Nevertheless!
I mean pic.twitter.com/I6e8soZDb6
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 27, 2025
An obvious delay of game in the first half.
🚨🚨THIS IS CRAZY🚨🚨
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 27, 2025
THE CLOCK HIT DOUBLE ZERO AND THE #CHIEFS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PENALIZED… INSTEAD THE REFS LET THE CLOWN RUNDOWN TO THE 2-MINUTE WARNING.
LITERALLY A CLEAR DELAY OF GAME AND THE REFS DO NOT CALL IT.#BILLS GET SCREWED 🤯🤯🤯pic.twitter.com/92MHYut7fR
An obvious neutral zone infraction. This was on the same play in which the refs ruled Allen short on the first down.
🚨🚨BILLS GET SCREWED🚨🚨
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 27, 2025
THE #CHIEFS WERE IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE ON THE 4TH DOWN PLAY.
NO CALL FROM THE REFS.
THE REFS THEN ALSO RULED THE #BILLS SHORT ON THE PLAY AND SETS UP KC FOR AN EASY TOUCHDOWN.
THIS IS ABSURD… WILD. pic.twitter.com/oRzWAzAY6d
Mahomes Says Officials Are Doing Their Best
This week, it was the Buffalo Bills with a right to gripe about the refs. Last week, it was the Houston Texans, after being the victims of a pair of phantom roughing-the-passer calls in their 23-14 loss to the Chiefs.
The Texans had twice as many flags thrown their way during the AFC Divisional round game, one of which that stood out was a 15-yard personal foul call against Texan defenders for a hit on Mahomes.
Problem being, neither defender touched the opposing quarterback.
Mahomes wasn’t running for yards. He was intentionally trying to bait a flag for 10 seconds and the refs fell for it…. pic.twitter.com/PCI8U8kX55
— Zach Rosas (@ZachRosas2) January 18, 2025
Even the normally reserved Texans signal-caller CJ Stroud gave a backhanded critique of the officiating.
“I’m not gonna go back and forth on what I thought was a call when it wasn’t a call. It’s one of those things you kind of notice before you walk in that arena,” Stroud said. “I can’t argue with the ref, and at the same time, play football.”
The Bills must have felt the same way. It’s hard enough to beat the Chiefs players, it’s even harder when Kansas City is constantly getting an assist from the officiating crew.
Prior to the AFC Championship game, Mahomes defended the officials, saying, “Those guys are doing their best to make the best calls and keep it to where the players are making the plays in the game.”
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