The Kansas City Chiefs were handed a crushing defeat for the second consecutive week, falling in the final minutes to the Buffalo Bills with more controversy regarding the officiating. A shocking offside penalty on wide receiver Kadarius Toney erased an incredible lateral play from Travis Kelce that would have given the team a go-ahead touchdown at Arrowhead Stadium.
Patrick Mahomes was visibly emotional and upset with the officials as the game ended. He didn’t mince words about the controversial penalty during the postgame press conference.
“It’s the call, and just in that moment, I mean, it’s not even for me; I know how much everybody puts into this game,” Mahomes said. “For it to happen, for a flag to change the outcome of the game. And that moment, I mean, I’ve played seven years and never had had offensive offsides called. [You learn] that [in] elementary school. We talked about pointing to the ref, all that different type of stuff, and … they warn you.
“There was no warning throughout the entire game. And then you wait; there’s a minute left in the game to make a call like that. It’s tough, man. I’m at a loss for words because regardless of whether we win or lose, just at the end of the day, another game, and we’re talking about the refs, Not what we really want in the NFL for football.”
Patrick Mahomes very emotional on the sidelines. pic.twitter.com/nkq3kIvDqa
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 11, 2023
The penalty not only cost the Chiefs a touchdown, it knocked them further back from field goal range. Mahomes’ next three passes fell incomplete to end the comeback attempt.
“I mean, that’s the thing is, I [would] rather they let us play, man, like let us play the game,” Mahomes continued. “Then, whatever happens happens, like throwing the flag and deciding the game one or another. That’s what hurts you. That’s why I’d like last week.
“I didn’t say anything because it’s letting us play, man, let us go out there and win the game, I’d rather they let us play and go out there and see who wins. That’s what you want as competitors. You practice all week and go out there and try to win, and you want it to be about your team and that team and see what happens. You never want to be talking about the stuff after the game.”
