If the NFL was hoping to quiet the narrative that the Chiefs get favorable calls from the referees, it will have to wait.
A crucial spot that potentially changed the game occurred in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s AFC Championship game between the Bills and Chiefs, handing the Chiefs the ball after a fourth-down conversion attempt was ruled just short of a first down.
Josh Allen attempted to sneak the ball on fourth-and-1 with Buffalo holding a 22-21 lead at Arrowhead Stadium. While it looked as though Allen had gotten enough yardage after a push from his teammates, the refs spotted the ball short, giving the Chiefs the ball.
Kansas City scored on the ensuing possession and converted on a two-point conversion to go ahead 29-22.
The Chiefs went on to win 32-29 to keep alive their hopes of a historic Super Bowl three-peat.
The spot the officials used was questionable and had color commentator Tony Romo and CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore questioning the call on the broadcast.
“I think he gained it,” Steratore said on air.
“So did I,” Romo responded.
Replay seemed to give credence to the notion that the ball had crossed the first-down line, and one of the officials looked ready to spot the ball in a position for a Bills first down.
The situation came after another controversial call awarded Xavier Worthy a catch despite it looking like the ball had hit the ground late in the first half.
None of this has done the league or the Chiefs any favors in terms of the perception that has developed that refs are favoring Kansas City.
Patrick Mahomes attempted to push back on that earlier this week while speaking with reporters.
“The referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and proper as best they can,” Mahomes said in a news conference.
The Chiefs advanced to face the Eagles in the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.