Chiefs fans furious after questionable holding penalty takes TD off the board
The first 29 minutes of the AFC Championship Game between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs were all about the brilliance of Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
The last minute was all about the refs.
Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith was hit with back-to-back holding penalties. Both were questionable calls but the second on a screen pass to Rashee Rice cost Kansas City a touchdown.
Members of NFL media were confused by the call.
That’s an awful holding call. Took away a touchdown.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 28, 2024
Neither one of those was holding. #Chiefs
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 28, 2024
We changed the definition of holding today?
— Nick Shook (@TheNickShook) January 28, 2024
That's ... not holding
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 28, 2024
Former Chiefs lineman Mitchell Schwartz called out the refs for the questionable call given the context.
WOW that’s a terrible hold on Trey, the second one. He’s getting out on a screen. The refs see the “slingshot” technique arm around the DT but if that’s the standard for getting out on screen blocks that’s ridiculous. And they’ve let go much worse all game today,
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) January 28, 2024
Chiefs fans were livid over refs taking a touchdown away
Meanwhile, fans were furious about the potential impact that call might have on the game.
If the Chiefs lose this game we'll be looking back at the Trey Smith holding taking away a TD
— NGB (@TheGoatMahomes) January 28, 2024
It’s genuinely remarkable
— Sam Hays (@WichitaChiefSam) January 28, 2024
The refs got both calls against the Ravens correct
The refs got a call against the Chiefs wrong AND it took away a TD
AND FOLKS ARE STILL GONNA SAY THE REFS ARE HELPING THE CHIEFS LOL
Should be 21-7. Refs absolutely had to make their presence known on that drive and robbed us of a beautifully designed TD
— 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔻𝕦𝕕𝕖 (@Christraint) January 28, 2024
Refs saving the Ravens idc what y’all say
— nahthatsTUFF (@nahthatstufff) January 28, 2024
If they are gonna call that soft hold on Trey Smith you gotta call this on the Ravens 4th down & 1 play pic.twitter.com/P3NsTuD48k
— Braiden Turner (@bturner23) January 28, 2024
There's no question that a narrow loss for Kansas City will have fans referencing that call for a long time.
The Chiefs would have been up over the Ravens by two touchdowns if that Rice touchdown had stood. Instead, it was called back and Kansas City had to settle for a field go to head into halftime ahead by 10.
Mahomes was immense in the first half with completions on his first 11 passes. Kelce was at his best with a touchdown and a series of clutch catches to move the chains.
Fans will always have complaints about the refs. Ravens fans certainly had plenty to say about other refereeing decisions in the first half. It's just a shame when the refs take a touchdown off the board on a dubious call.
With any luck, the officials will be less involed in the rest of the game, but this is the NFL, so it's not worth betting on that.
Next. Best Twitter reactions to Jackson, Mahomes magic plays. Best Twitter reactions to Jackson, Mahomes magic plays. dark