Fansided

Ball don’t lie: 3 worst calls from Week 15 in the NFL

By Mark Powell

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 25: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints argues a call with a referee in the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 25, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 25: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints argues a call with a referee in the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 25, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

Week 15 is over, and with it are any real challengers to the Kansas City Chiefs — minus the officials, of course.

Can anyone really beat the Kansas City Chiefs? Sure, if you’re a fan in Buffalo, Green Bay or Tennessee, perhaps you can convince yourself otherwise. I was once you — stationed squarely here in Pittsburgh, watching the Steelers go 11-0, albeit against shoddy competition. Three weeks later and the silence from the Steel City is deafening. Pittsburgh’s lost three straight games, and perhaps are on the docket for another two, plus a big fat L in the Wild Card round of the AFC Playoffs.

The Chiefs are a well-oiled machine, a dynasty in the making that has yet to get bored of regular season success. At the pinnacle of the Patriots run, they need not concern themselves with regular season dominance. And despite some close results the last six weeks, Kansas City can turn things on when it matters. That’s the true sign of greatness in the NFL. Parity is obvious, except when one team — Kansas City in particular — decides they’ve had enough fun. Let’s go inside, kids.

Which brings me to my primary point. Only one team can beat the Kansas City Chiefs through four quarters of football in this year’s postseason — The Zebras. If you haven’t heard of them, they’re the same team that:

Took away Tyreek Hill’s touchdown thanks to a backflip.

And negated another in the same game (which Andy Reid should’ve challenged, frankly).

It’s important to note the Chiefs STILL won that game. Kansas City is so good it can overcome more bad calls than most. The perfect cocktail for a shocking outcome over the Chiefs is the right combination of interior pass rush, bad calls, career-making performances from some of your best and, quite frankly, good luck. I wish you the best.

Now, to this week’s worst.

3. Tom Brady gets the spot, and the game

Brady wasn’t meant to lose to the Atlanta Falcons — it’s simply not possible, especially in a game the GOAT is behind in by double digits. TB12 proves to be the Falcons worst enemy once again on Sunday in Atlanta, as a 17-0 halftime deficit wasn’t enough to keep he or the Bucs from a critical road win.

With the Bucs driving to close out the game, Brady and Co. got a generous spot to give them a first down. Upon a second look, was the ball actually past the chains?

My guess is as good as yours, but the Falcons sideline and supporters were fuming.

Frankly, it’s tough to see the talent of Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Todd Gurley and Calvin Ridley wasted as it has been with the Falcons the last few years. With that kind of offensive talent, they should be better, and it shouldn’t take a regime change to get the best out of that group.

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