A costly encroachment penalty in the AFC Championship Game? You’d think the Kansas City Chiefs would have learned their lesson last year.
During the second quarter of the Chiefs’ matchup against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium during the AFC title game, Kansas City committed a handful of costly penalties on the Titans’ preposterously long touchdown drive: 15 plays, 9:07 minutes and 75 yards. It wouldn’t have been possible without Chiefs’ defenders committing a handful of bone-headed errors.
On a third-and-7, defensive end Frank Clark committed an encroachment penalty, which made life easier for Ryan Tannehill, who then hit receiver Adam Humphries on the ensuing play. On a third-and-22 — a third-and-22! — cornerback Bashaud Breeland committed a defensive pass interference that gave the Titans a first down. They ground away the Chiefs on the following five plays, finally scoring a touchdown on a trick play, a play-action pass to tackle Dennis Kelly.
Because the Chiefs’ mistakes were so glaring, NFL fans and media members were deeply critical of Kansas City. Considering an encroachment penalty was essentially what held the Chiefs out of the Super Bowl last year, the criticism felt justified.
This is where penalties become so devastating. https://t.co/gI3b2TqgvL
— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) January 19, 2020
Between the Chiefs’ penalties and Henry’s running, the Titans must be thrilled with the amount of time their keeping Mahomes off the field. Titans have had the ball for 16:04 to the Chiefs’ 6:36.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/Patrick97773670/status/1219002890414587904
oh cool, neutural zone infractions.
— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) January 19, 2020
That DPI on third-and-22 was absolutely crushing.
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@FO_ASchatz) January 19, 2020
Encroachment pic.twitter.com/MmjdSXnONy
— Susie Q (@LundaraTM) January 19, 2020
5 yard encroachments hurt less than 5 yard Derrick Henry rushes
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) January 19, 2020
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