The officials in the Kansas City Chiefs-New England Patriots game were having an off-day to say the least in the second half of the huge AFC contest. They missed two calls that would have been scores for New England then they called a pass complete for a TD only to overrule it and say the connection was not made.
First, Travis Kelce caught a pass from Patrick Mahomes. The tight end was being tackled and lost the ball. New England recovered and Stefan Gilmore picked it up and seemed headed for a scoop and score. Oops, someone blew the play dead with a whistle.
The refs now stop a clear fumble play dead. Cost the #Patriots a possible defensive touchdown.pic.twitter.com/bE6bSAkEN0
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 8, 2019
The refs overturned the call and ruled the Patriots’ challenge was correct, giving New England the ball.
Tom Brady subsequently found N’Keal Harry for what appeared to all as a touchdown. However, the officials ruled the wideout stepped out at the 3-yard line, which he clearly did not.
The Patriots had used both their challenges so they were helpless to do anything. The drive wound up with a field goal that made it Kansas City 23-16, which is how the game ended. The loss snapped New England’s 21-game home win streak.
Bill Belichick was apoplectic.
The refs called this out of bounds and they didn't give the Patriots a touchdown.pic.twitter.com/UXu00NAqTA
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 9, 2019
The Patriots have scored 17 points in the past ten minutes and only have 16 points
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 9, 2019
Refs said this was out of bounds and took away a TD. Between this and the fumble, Belichick going to have this entire officiating crew fired after this game #Patriots #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/mXBW61pns1
— John Breech (@johnbreech) December 9, 2019
So to review …
• Bad call on Kelce fumble forced Pats' last challenge.
• Patriots can't challenge what should've been a TD.
• Chiefs get a stop inside the 10, force a FG.Officials literally took 4 points off the board. And the league doesn't want a Sky Judge. https://t.co/CWSOEQ0rAy
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 9, 2019
The Patriots twice made it 23-20 and twice the refs cancelled the TDs with blunders.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 9, 2019
If I'm feeling the Patriots got hosed multiple times I KNOW the officiating is dreadful in today's NFL…
— Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon) December 9, 2019
Later in the fourth quarter, there was an apparent pass interference penalty the referees missed. CBS analyst Tony Romo said a flag should have been thrown as there was a penalty on the play.
And a mantra people have heard before after a 2014 loss to the Chiefs:
On to Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/vTdnZnwTvx
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 9, 2019