Chiefs vs. Bengals and NFL referee Alex Kemp (Photos via Twitter)
Football fans are blasting the NFL refs once again following a controversial ending in the Kansas City Chiefs-Cincinnati Bengals Week 2 contest at Arrowhead Stadium.
The NFL refs in the Chiefs-Bengals game are receiving immense criticism over a controversial call that helped Patrick Mahomes and the defending champions squeak by with a 26-23 victory.
Trailing by two points with less than a minute remaining, Kansas City faced a 4th-and-16 situation at their own 35. Mahomes’ pass to Rashee Rice fell incomplete, but safety Daijahn Anthony was flagged for defensive pass interference:
Additionally, the video below shows that the NFL refs failed to call Kansas City’s offensive line for blatant holding that should have offset the PI call against Anthony, meaning it would be a replay of 4th-and-16:
So as you would expect, social media wasted no time blasting head official Alex Kemp and the NFL refs while accusing them of rigging the game:
Another controversial call saw the officials flag Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase for unsportsmanlike conduct. Chase was upset over a missed illegal hip-drop tackle that would have given the Bengals a fresh set of downs.
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Kemp refused to repeat what Chase said to him, only stating it was “abusive language.” Regardless of what you feel about the call, the NFL refs have unfortunately found another way to be a prime talking point about an otherwise thrilling game.
NFL Refs Steal The Spotlight Again
It wouldn’t be a typical week of NFL football without officiating controversies. Though Anthony probably committed pass interference, the Chiefs certainly got away with blatant holding on that 4th-and-16 play.
The NFL hasn’t shown much desire to put in new rules or systems that could improve the officiating system, so this is just how it is. Fans have to get used to it, if they aren’t already.
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