Did NFL refs miss critical penalty on Bengals game-winning drive?

Did the refs miss an illegal formation penalty on the Bengals during their game-winning drive against the Chiefs in the AFC title game?

There was plenty of confusion at the end of Cincinnati’s victory over Kansas City and it was even more complex than it might have seemed on the broadcast.

The hubbub centered on a play in overtime with the Bengals driving into field goal range. Cincinnati appeared to line up with too few men on the line of scrimmage.

Joe Mixon went on to rush for 13 yards, which set up an easy field goal to win the game.

Did the Bengals get away with an illegal formation?

However, the play had much bigger implications than a five-yard penalty. It could have resulted in the Chiefs getting the ball and preventing Cincinnati’s game-winning field goal.

At the end of the rush, Mixon fell to the ground and left the ball behind. It wasn’t immediately clear that he had ever been touched down and a KC defender made a clear recovery.

It turns out Chiefs head coach Andy Reid wasn’t trying to challenge the formation. He wanted the refs to look at the play again and check for a fumble.

The officials informed him that Mixon had given himself up, which would make the play dead before the fumble.

Either way, it wasn’t reviewable.

Would that moment have changed the game and the champion of the AFC?

Chiefs fans may express their frustration over this but it’s hard to argue that Mixon straight-up fumbled. There were three potential results of that play. First, the refs might have determined that Mixon was tripped by a defender in the first place and thus down by contact. Second, they could have ruled that he gave himself up. Third, they could have awarded the Chiefs the ball.

The first two options were always going to be the more likely of the three.

Kansas City had a great run this season but they ran out of miracles. It happens.