If you are reading this, odds are you are well aware of the dramatic ending to Sunday’s thrilling game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills.
However, as a brief refresher, here is a quick recap for those just getting caught up on the news. With the Chiefs trailing 20-17, it looked as if Kansas City had scored the go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute remaining, on what might have been the NFL’s Play of the Decade. Patrick Mahomes connected on a downfield throw to Travis Kelce, who then channeled his former quarterback self, throwing a perfect spiral of a lateral to Kadarius Toney, who skipped into the end zone for the apparent TD.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, the play was called back, as Toney was lined up in the neutral zone.
You see the play in question here:
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And this is the moment just before the ball was snapped. You can see the football in center Creed Humphrey’s hand, resting on the Bills’ 49.5-yard line, and you can also see Toney’s right foot, on the Bills’ 49-yard line:
That … is offsides.
After the game, the Chiefs were clearly unhappy with the call. Mahomes was furious on the sidelines, during his post-game handshake with Josh Allen, and in his press conference with the media. Head coach Andy Reid expressed his displeasure as well. Both seemed more critical of the fact that a warning had not been given, which they indicated was fairly standard procedure.
However, some former referees, as well as those working in this game, are pushing back on that idea. Immediately after the game Gene Steratore, the Rules Analyst for CBS Sports and a former NFL official, had this to say:
Steratore was not the only one breaking down the call in its aftermath. Matt Derrick, who covers the Chiefs for Chiefs Digest and was the Pro Football Writers Association pool reporter for the game, spoke with both Walt Anderson, the NFL’s Senior Vice President of Officiating, as well as referee Carl Cheffers, after the game.
According to this report, Cheffers termed Toney’s alignment an “egregious violation.” In addition, Cheffers noted that while warnings are typically given, they are not required, especially in cases where “they are lined up so far offsides where they’re actually blocking our view of the ball.”
As Cheffers stated, “ … ultimately, they are responsible for wherever they line up.”
You can read the full report here:
The pool report with NFL senior VP of officiating Walt Anderson and referee Carl Cheffers on the offside penalty on Kadarius Toney and the upheld catch by Latavius Murray.
Short version: no rule requiring official to notify receiver they are offsides and this was “egregious.” pic.twitter.com/8h1GrrU9F7
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) December 11, 2023
This may all be little solace to the Chiefs, and their fans, who believe that perhaps the best play of the season was taken off the board as a result of this call. Compounding matters is that officiating has been — as it often is — a huge storyline this season.
However, as explained by those who know the rulebook inside and out, this seems to have been the correct call.
