The Kansas City Chiefs are a good enough football team. They don’t need help from the men in stripes, but damn they sure do seem to get it more than most.
Case in point: This rather blatant pass interference penalty that could’ve set up a game-winning touchdown for the Atlanta Falcons with 1st and goal. The zebras swallowed their whistles.
Man, this sure looked like defensive pass interference on the Chiefs.
Bryan Cook had his back turned to the ball and was all over Kyle Pitts. pic.twitter.com/289IcVxsG2
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) September 23, 2024
Refs let the Chiefs get away with a lot of contact on this pass to Pitts. Falcons end up turning it over on downs. #KCvsATL pic.twitter.com/rSFnM2tIb8
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) September 23, 2024
Not beating the “rigged” or “scripted” allegations on this one, NFL.
Everybody in the "Chiefs always get the calls" hive after that missed PI in the end zone: pic.twitter.com/8Phf2fyY9C
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) September 23, 2024
This is how all of us feel when the Chiefs get their latest friendly whistle, am I right?
The Falcons mascot staring daggers at Mahomes is sending me pic.twitter.com/b3310icEiu
— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) September 23, 2024
OK so now that we’ve established that, we can acknowledge the reality that the officiating crews seem to want the Chiefs’ Super Bowl three-peat to happen more than most KC fans even do. We can also acknowledge that the way Atlanta handled business in the closing minutes was an unmitigated disaster.
Let me give you a rundown of what they did following the uncalled DPI penalty. First of all, they went for it on fourth down instead of taking the points. They didn’t get it.
The Falcons got a defensive stop. Kirk Cousins proved his clutch mettle again by driving the home team into field goal range. Could’ve won the friggin’ game that way!
What did I say??? If the Falcons take that 3 instead of going for it on 4th down they’re playing for the game winning FG if they get the ball back!! The defense was playing well and look at the position the dumb ass coach put them in!!! Raheem Morris is a dummy!!! pic.twitter.com/kFr9ejS2Qk
— Press ratio is DEATH!! (@VictorySlap4700) September 23, 2024
Worst, though? On 3rd and 1, Atlanta thought it’d be a great idea to get cute and take Bijan Robinson out of the game. All due respect to Tyler Allgeier, if I have two plays to get one yard, Bijan Robinson is on the field for not one, but both of those plays. Allgeier got stacked up and second-efforted forward short of the line to gain. Bijan came in on the next snap. The Falcons’ o-line lost their minds and forgot how to block in the biggest moment. Nick Bolton bolted into the backfield and hit Bijan with the TFL. Ballgame.
Chiefs get the stop on fourth down!!!!
đź“ş: #KCvsATL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/5aUfSMdG6o— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
This is how much play-caller Zac Robinson’s head was in the clouds:
Falcons ran off-tackle to a side where there were more defenders than blockers. pic.twitter.com/FeMRMJJTDh
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) September 23, 2024
Couldn’t agree more with RG3 — dial up Captain Kirk on the QB sneak!
There is no reason for the Atlanta Falcons to not QB sneak their on 4th and inches. Have all those RBs push your QB forward for a first down. Running side ways when you need an inch makes ZERO SENSE.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 23, 2024
You know what’s the weirdest thing of all? Raheem Morris took a quick timeout with about a minute left before that 3rd and 1 play. The Falcons staff had time to discuss this thing. That makes it even more embarrassing. Only it gets worse! The Chiefs got the ball back, and Atlanta had only two timeouts to stop the clock. Andy Reid burned a KC timeout after the 3rd and 1 to preserve time in case the Chiefs needed to drive down the field themselves!
Glad I’m not the only one who caught this.
Just insane Raheem Morris used a timeout a few moments ago. Coaches absolutely just give away chances to win games with those types of decisions.
We just saw Atlanta win a game in a similar spot last week. Three timeouts, they have a shot at that drive again.
— Ben Gretch (@YardsPerGretch) September 23, 2024
I can’t believe what I just saw. Madness. Fitting way to end one of the weirdest NFL Sundays of my lifetime. If your team is in bad shape, or if you’re a Falcons fan who got gut punched for the umpteenth time, take solace in not having Will Levis as your quarterback.
