The Kansas City Chiefs lost in heartbreaking fashion against the Buffalo Bills, and franchise icons Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are not happy with the officiating. Referees are human at the end of the day, and nobody can expect them to get the calls right every single time. However, this year more than ever, blatant officiating errors have notably impacted the on-field product, and yesterday’s game only increases the odds that the league does something in the offseason to address their subpar work.
Late in the game, the Buffalo Bills took a 20-17 lead with less than two minutes to go. This gave Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid yet another opportunity to put together an iconic game-winning drive against a talented rival. For a second there, it looked like Kansas City would pull off the win. With 1:25 on the clock, Mahomes connected with tight end Travis Kelce deep down the field. Kelce then lateraled the ball to Kadarius Toney, who went into the endzone untouched for the go-ahead score…or did he?
As it turns out, Toney lined up offsides, which means the entire play didn’t count and the Chiefs had to replay the down. Ultimately, this setback was too much for the Chiefs to overcome, and Buffalo walked away with the win. However, even though Toney was unquestionably lined up offsides, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes both believe the refs did not handle the situation properly.
Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid Let Loose On Poor Officiating
Right after a failed fourth down attempt, a frustrated Patrick Mahomes was yelling at the officials on the sidelines. With multiple teammates between him and the refs, Mahomes wasn’t getting any answer for what he believed to be a bad call. This wasn’t just a momentary burst of anger, either, as he complained to Josh Allen about the play and continued to voice his opinions in a post-game interview.
Patrick Mahomes to Josh Allen after the game: "Worst f****** call I've ever seen."
(via @thadbrown7)pic.twitter.com/5W7KES4T10 https://t.co/VXkxHjkilj
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 11, 2023
Patrick Mahomes on the Kadarius Toney offsides: "Another game, we're talking about the refs. It's not what we want for the NFL or for football."
Mahomes said he asked three refs for an explanation. No one gave him one. https://t.co/VXkxHjkilj
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 11, 2023
It’s clear to see that Patrick Mahomes believes the refs were in the wrong on the Kadarius Toney offsides call, and Andy Reid shared a similar viewpoint. While the head coach wasn’t as animated on the sidelines, he piled on the officiating during his post-game interview. He did provide some clarity as to why he’s upset, as refs usually give a warning when players are lined up offsides. Toney never received said warning, and Reid said that this oversight was “embarrassing”.
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid on the Kadarius Toney offsides: "Usually I get a warning before something like that happens. … It's a bit embarrassing in the National Football League for that to take place. … I’ve been in the league for a long time. Haven’t had one like that.”
Reid… pic.twitter.com/5RBmbER8UM
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 11, 2023
Is This Criticism Deserved?
Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid believe that this loss is on the refs, and they have a point. If officials generally warn offensive players that they’re lined up offsides, then there is no excuse as to why they didn’t give Toney that same luxury. However, at the end of the day, most of the blame should fall on Toney. He is a professional wide receiver, and it shouldn’t be too hard to line up on the right side of the ball.
This mental error is made even worse by taking a closer look at the formation. Toney began the play in the slot and had a clear line of sight to the center. Before setting up for the snap, Toney should have taken a closer look to make sure that he wasn’t in the neutral zone. Ultimately, this is yet another mental error from a talented player who can’t seem to get out of his own way. You can understand why Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid wouldn’t throw their own player under the bus in front of the media, but this is probably the last time Toney should see the field for a while.
Main Photo: Denny Medley – USA Today Sports
