In yet another instant classic AFC title game, the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals were deadlocked at 20 points apiece in the final moments. But, after a late Patrick Mahomes “ghost” fumble seemingly opened the door for another playoff upset at home, the Chiefs had a shot to survive and advance to Super Bowl 57.
Little did Bengals’ defender Joseph Ossai know he’d play an unfortunate role in the demise of his team’s Super Bowl hopes. (As did apparent questionable officiating.)
As Mahomes scrambled on a third and medium in the final seconds, he merely just picked up the first down. But then Ossai, clearly accidentally, gave Mahomes another shove as he was already going out of bounds. A 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness later, and the Chiefs were now in optimal position for a medium-length game-winning Harrison Butker field goal.
“Whoops” doesn’t do this miscue proper justice:
A POTENTIALLY SEASON-ENDING, AFC TITLE-DECIDING LATE HIT, JOSEPH OSSAI WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? pic.twitter.com/Qvq6nsTbjj
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) January 30, 2023
After such a gift, all Butker had to do was kick a 45-yarder to send the Chiefs to Arizona next month. Of course, he made it through the uprights:
Harrison Butker FOR THE WIN pic.twitter.com/FI1BehfeuN
— alex (@highIightheaven) January 30, 2023
Man, that’s a tough pill to swallow for the Bengals and Ossai. It looked like Cincinnati had a legitimate chance of an upset — per bettors in the pregame and especially with Mahomes’ injury in context — but they ultimately fell short.
To come so close and almost gift the other team a Super Bowl berth with a horrendous penalty is not something you’ll live down any time soon.
NFL fans were shocked by Joseph Ossai's season-ending late hit on Patrick Mahomes
If I was a Cincy fan I would never live this down, every night I would see it in my nightmares, at Joe Burrows hall of fame speech I would still be thinking of this play https://t.co/kHeXPVWllB
— Joey (@JoeyWright10) January 30, 2023
This guy is never gonna forgive himself 😞 https://t.co/WtNJbaipre
— Mambo Moondog (@mambomoondog) January 30, 2023
This is how the #Chiefs beat the #Bengals, what was Ossai doing?pic.twitter.com/5SU6FXysBs
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 30, 2023
Out of anything you can do in this situation… this is the last last thing you could possibly do to get your team to lose… smh 🤦🏽♂️ somebody gotta check up on him https://t.co/hHld0oHX0t
— Mylo Mitchell (@MitchellMylo) January 30, 2023
Like what was going through your head !!!! https://t.co/h8ITixnGdQ
— Josh (@JoshMahan3) January 30, 2023
This play just hurts my heart why would he push him when he’s out of bounds?!?!?! https://t.co/M6rytA9hgv
— Anthony Thompson (@athompsonABJ) January 30, 2023
It’s a penalty, but Mahomes sold the hell out of it 😂 https://t.co/MhLC7Od6yM
— Mark Oldacres (@MarkOldacres) January 30, 2023
sick to my stomach https://t.co/nk3y853d6W
— Iris (@lonercheerleadr) January 30, 2023
What an awful ending to that game man https://t.co/dgQasFqlgS
— Curt🙂 (@Curtriches) January 30, 2023
WHY. WHY. WHY. https://t.co/kXQoYMirjx
— TJ Knopf (@knopftj13) January 30, 2023
Caught up in the moment. Unaware where he was on the field. No excuse, but I feel so bad for that guy. Game is in OT but for this play. https://t.co/eUCSbNexjp
— Michael Baharaeen (@mbaharaeen) January 30, 2023
