NFL officiating was a topic of conversation amid the biggest game of the year between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills on Sunday night in the AFC Championship Game.
The Bills were stuck with a 4th and 1 with about 13 minutes left in the game. Josh Allen sneaked past the quarterback to try for yards on the first down. At first glance, the push from his companions seemed fruitless to achieve a new series of casualties.
REGISTER ON TUBI AND STREAM SUPER BOWL LIX FOR FREE
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, #32, hits Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, #17, during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game on Sunday January 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The game was stopped while the referees reviewed the play. The CBS broadcast appeared to show the two sideline judges initially disagreeing over the placement of the ball. One referee saw the ball closer to the scoreboard than the other.
The replay appeared to show that Allen may have gotten the ball across the line as he inched toward the Chiefs’ defensive linemen. However, the referees ruled that Allen did not carry the ball to the scoreboard and Buffalo turned it over.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, #17, warms up before the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, January 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
NFL fans who watched the game were highly critical of the ball placement and expressed this during the game.
The Chiefs scored on the next drive. Buffalo tied the game on the next possession. However, it was Harrison Butker’s field goal and a Chiefs defensive stop that ended the game.
Kansas City won, 32-29.
Allen’s stop wasn’t the only questionable call of the game. A big play by Xavier Worthy in the second quarter was called a catch even though the ball appeared to hit the ground.
Stream Super Bowl LIX for free on Tubi. (Tubi)
The Chiefs also scored on the drive.
