Patrick Mahomes sealed a 32-29 win, keeping the Chiefs on track for a third straight Super Bowl title.
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills were marked short on back-to-back plays (Image via X/SS)
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills knew all too well that playing against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game was not going to be easy. They do happen to be the only team to soundly beat them in the regular season, but the playoffs are different.
It is a time when no one bets against the Chiefs. Fans, players and analysts know Patrick Mahomes and his teammates find a way to win ugly. However, that was not the only narrative surrounding them over this past season.
After the AFC Divisional round game, the likes of Dave Portnoy were furious with the NFL for blatantly helping the Chiefs. Tonight, he saw some calls go against the Bills. The Xavier Worthy complete catch ruling was bizarre enough.
But the Barstool Sports president shared a clip on his X that showcased two more calls that went against the Bills. One was a 3rd and three play near the thirteen-minute mark in the fourth quarter. Allen tossed a pass to TE Dalton Kincaid, who was caught at the ankle by Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner.
However, as he was being brought down, the tight end stretched with the ball in his hands. On replay, it clearly shows that Kincaid ensures the ball crosses the 1st down marker by millimeters. But the referees mark it down half a yard short.
The second call that went against the Bills was on the very next play. Josh Allen and his teammates lined up for a QB sneak and ploughed forward. However, Chiefs’ defenders stopped him from going beyond the 1st yard line. The referees again mark him short, and the Chiefs take over on downs.
Fans unleash on officiating in AFC Championship game
Dave Portnoy and fans watching the game questioned if the referees would have done the same had this been Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs. They feel if it was the back-to-back Super Bowl champions, the officials would have awarded them the benefit of doubt.
Fans were furious Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs benefitted from officiating again (Image via The 33rd Team/X)
Instead, they saw Allen and the Bills being robbed of two chances to earn a first down. Those first downs could have had an impact on the end result of the game.
Patrick Mahomes took advantage of that take over on downs to run in to score a touchdown. That and a 2-point conversion gave the Kansas City Chiefs seven-point lead. Now they get a chance to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls after finishing the game 32-29.