For Pete’s Sake: Chiefs Get Burned by Controversial Grounding Call in Buffalo
In a game already carrying playoff implications and emotional weight, the Kansas City Chiefs found themselves at the center of a bizarre officiating moment that left fans, analysts, and even former referees scratching their heads.
Midway through the third quarter in Orchard Park, with the Chiefs trailing the Bills 21-13 and driving from their own 44-yard line, Patrick Mahomes dropped back on second-and-6. His pass attempt was tipped at the line – a crucial detail – but the officials flagged him for intentional grounding.
That’s when things got strange.
Andy Reid, never one to let a call like that slide, threw the red challenge flag. He pointed out what seemed obvious to anyone watching: the pass had been tipped. And under NFL rules, a tipped ball nullifies the possibility of intentional grounding.
But referee Carl Cheffers and his crew weren’t hearing it. Cheffers told Reid the play was not reviewable – and that was that.
Gene Steratore, longtime NFL referee and current CBS rules analyst, was stunned on the broadcast.
“I’ve been around 30 years,” Steratore said. “And it’s the first time I’ve seen a play like this.”
That’s not a throwaway comment. Steratore’s reaction underscores just how rare – and confusing – this moment was.
He believed the play should have been reviewable. But Cheffers and his crew stood firm, and the Chiefs were hit with a loss of down and yardage on a call that, by all appearances, shouldn’t have stood.
The reaction was swift and loud.
Clips of the play circulated online almost immediately, showing the ball clearly being tipped at the line of scrimmage. Chiefs fans erupted on social media, venting their frustration not just at the call, but at the fact that Cheffers – a name already infamous in Chiefs circles – was once again involved in a questionable decision.
One fan posted: “If Carl Cheffers refs a #Chiefs game you know the Chiefs are going to get at least one bad call like the intentional grounding on a tipped pass.”
Another added: “They huddled to discuss and then threw the flag. Not one of them saw that the ball was tipped?”
The criticism didn’t stop with the fans. National NFL voices chimed in too. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer called the ruling “inconsistent and bizarre,” pointing out the lack of replay assistance on a call that could have – and arguably should have – been corrected.
“This is all so inconsistent and bizarre,” Breer wrote. “Good thing the officials don’t have to go in front of the media and explain this stuff.”
NBC Sports’ Mike Florio kept it simple and sharp: “The NFL’s replay system is broken.”
It’s hard to argue with that assessment in this moment. The NFL has invested heavily in technology and replay infrastructure, but when a tipped ball – something that should be easily confirmed with video – can’t be reviewed, it raises serious questions about the system’s functionality and purpose.
This wasn’t just a missed holding call or a questionable spot. This was a pivotal play in a one-score game between two AFC contenders. And it left one of the league’s best quarterbacks penalized for something he didn’t do – with no recourse.
There’s always going to be human error in officiating. That’s part of the game. But when the tools exist to correct those errors – and they’re not being used – that’s when frustration turns into something deeper.
For Mahomes and the Chiefs, it was a drive stalled by more than just a tipped pass. It was a moment where the system meant to ensure fairness failed them. And for a team with championship aspirations, every drive, every call, and every inch matters.
In a league that prides itself on precision and parity, Sunday’s moment in Buffalo was a reminder that even with all the technology, transparency is still a work in progress.
