The Kansas City Chiefs have had some rough ends to their most recent games. In Week 13, the Chiefs and Green Bay Packers were both the recipients of some of the worst officiating we’ve seen during Kansas City’s final drive. Then, on Sunday, the Chiefs had what could have been a game-winning touchdown lateral from Travis Kelce called back due to Kadarius Toney being offside on the play.
While the Chiefs had a right to complain about Week 13’s absolute mess of an ending, their troubles on Sunday were the definition of self-inflicted. Wide receivers rarely get flagged for offsides, but it was obvious from the jump that Toney had lined up offside. Plus, Toney didn’t even check in with the referees, putting the fault squarely on the Chiefs wide receiver for the penalty.
MORE: Lip readers guessed what an absolutely livid Patrick Mahomes shouted at the refs from the sidelines.
It’s a frustrating end to a game, 100 percent, but instead of taking accountability for the self-inflicted wound, the Chiefs played the blame game with the referees. From head coach Andy Reid to Patrick Mahomes and more, the Chiefs stood firm on their stance that the officials — not themselves — were to blame.
Chiefs’ HC Andy Reid was not pleased that officials did not warn him that Kadarius Toney was lined up offsides the way they have in the past. About the call, the normally mild-mannered Reid said, “It's a bit embarrassing for the National Football League for that to take place.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 11, 2023
Patrick Mahomes: “I’ve played seven years in the National Football League and never had offensive offsides called.”
“You want until a minute left to make a call like that?”
Mahomes said he asked three refs for an explanation. Got none.
“Let us play the game.”
— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) December 11, 2023
#Chiefs Jerick McKinnon: “Refs had it out for us tonight huh?” pic.twitter.com/hsgUAVcS1H
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) December 11, 2023
This all reads like a bunch of sour grapes to me. The referees aren’t the reason the Chiefs are 8-5 this season. Their lack of wide receiver options for Mahomes is extremely limiting this team’s ceiling alongside uncharacteristically sloppy play from this squad as well. Lest we all forget, it wasn’t that long ago that Marquez Valdes-Scantling dropped a game-winning touchdown for the Chiefs, leading to one of their five losses this year.
Also, I’m not sure to what end this complaining will serve. The game is over and the Chiefs lost. Complaining won’t fix what’s wrong with this team nor will it win anyone in the league over to their side. In fact, it makes the Chiefs look like pretty big sore losers for not accepting accountability in a clear-cut situation.
Compare the Chiefs’ complaints about officiating to the cornerstone play of Super Bowl 57. After James Bradberry’s controversial hold that allowed the Chiefs to kick the game-winning field goal, the Eagles’ cornerback rightfully owned up to the penalty and accepted accountability for his actions. Not that hard to do, right?
Instead, this temper tantrum from the Chiefs may as well end up defining their season when all is said and done. The Chiefs have some damn talented players in their locker room, but the lack of accountability here is just embarrassing.