Buffalo Payments quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws below stress from Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defensive finish Mike Danna (51) throughout the first half of an NFL soccer sport Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. (AP Picture/Charlie Riedel)
KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Sean McDermott thought for a second {that a} tough week for himself and the Buffalo Payments would finish with one final intestine punch, an audacious landing move by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs with simply over a minute left to steal a win Sunday.
Then the Payments’ coach noticed the yellow flag on the sector.
The move from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce, which was then lateraled throughout the sector to Kadarius Toney, for the 49-yard rating was known as again by an offside penalty on none aside from Toney himself.
And when the Payments proceeded to carry the Chiefs on downs, they escaped from Arrowhead Stadium with a heart-stopping and head-scratching 20-17 victory.
“Because the play unfolded,” McDermott stated, “Kelce obtained extensive open. The play after he caught the ball, I’ve by no means seen a play like that within the NFL. However I noticed the referees signaling that route. I didn’t know if it was a decide or what. It turned out to be offside.”
Not often is offside known as on an offensive participant. However replays confirmed that Toney’s foot was clearly throughout the road of scrimmage.
That didn’t make the decision sit any higher with Mahomes, who chased after three completely different officers for a proof. Or with Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who was nonetheless incensed after strolling out of the locker room afterward.
“It’s a bit embarrassing for the Nationwide Soccer League for that to happen,” Reid stated.
It was the second straight week the Chiefs (8-5) had been coping with questionable officiating. Final week in Inexperienced Bay, they had been left questioning why move interference was not known as on a move supposed for Marquez Valdes-Scantling within the closing minutes of that sport.
“Loss for phrases, man,” Mahomes stated. “To finish one other sport and we’re speaking about referees, it’s dangerous for the NFL.”
It was good for the Payments (7-6), although, they usually certain wanted one thing optimistic to occur.
Their week started with questions swirling round move rusher Von Miller, who turned himself into police throughout their bye and is going through a cost of third-degree felony assault of a pregnant lady. And the week ended with criticism aimed toward McDermott, who in 2019 had used the hijackers from Sept. 11, 2001, in a workforce assembly to emphasize the significance of communication, and was left apologizing once more — simply as he did after realizing how his mistake 4 years in the past.
“Simply so grateful. I’m grateful for thus many issues,” McDermott stated. “So many individuals that reached out. Andy Reid, a lot of their employees after the sport. I do know fairly just a few of the coaches on their employees. They’re a category act. I recognize that.”
The Payments’ Josh Allen threw for 233 yards with touchdowns operating and throwing, although he additionally threw an interception for the ninth consecutive sport. James Prepare dinner had 58 yards dashing and caught 5 passes for 83 yards and a rating.
The Payments had been 2-6 in video games determined by six factors or fewer, they usually had misplaced a lead within the remaining two minutes in three losses.
“It wasn’t the prettiest of wins. Everyone knows that,” Allen stated. “However the protection performed incredible.”
Mahomes completed with 271 yards passing and a landing with an interception, and Rashee Rice had seven catches for 72 yards and the rating. But it surely wasn’t sufficient to maintain the Chiefs from dropping for the fourth time in six video games.
“It’s a intestine test,” Chiefs guard Trey Smith stated. “You bought to dig down deep. We nonetheless have video games left to play.”
The Chiefs continued a latest monitor file of awful begins on Sunday. Mahomes was intercepted by A.J. Epenesa on their first collection, they punted on every of their subsequent three, and it wasn’t till the closing minutes of the primary half that Kansas Metropolis was capable of maintain a drive that ended with Jerick McKinnon’s landing run.
By that time, the Payments had already reached the tip zone twice.
The primary landing got here when Prepare dinner was unchecked popping out of the backfield, caught a flick from Allen and breezed 25 yards for the rating. The second got here on the finish of a 73-yard drive, when Allen stored the ball over the fitting aspect and was stood up on the Kansas Metropolis 4, just for the complete Payments offense to collect behind him and shove into the tip zone.
If the Eagles have the “tush push,” the Payments supplied their “workforce trample.”
Buffalo added a discipline objective out of halftime, however momentum shortly tilted Kansas Metropolis’s manner. Mahomes led a nine-play, 75-yard march that ended with Rice’s landing catch, then their protection compelled back-to-back punts, earlier than one other drive ended with Butker’s tying discipline objective with 11 1/2 minutes to go.
The Payments had one final scoring drive in them, which ended with Tyler Bass’ go-ahead discipline objective with 1:54 left within the sport.
The Chiefs thought they did, too, till they noticed a penalty flag on the sector.
“I’ve performed seven years within the Nationwide Soccer League and by no means had offensive offside known as,” Mahomes stated, nonetheless seething in his postgame information convention. “You need till a minute left to make a name like that?”
INJURIES
Buffalo misplaced Epenesa within the first quarter, shortly after he had batted a move into the air and picked it off. … FS Micah Hyde left late within the first half with a stinger. He was changed by Taylor Rapp within the second half.
Kansas Metropolis RB Isiah Pacheco (shoulder), LT Donovan Smith (neck) and LB Drue Tranquill (concussion) had been inactive.
UP NEXT
Buffalo performs Dallas subsequent Sunday.
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Kansas Metropolis visits New England subsequent Sunday.