Football fans are convinced that the NFL refs “rigged” the Kansas City Chiefs-Atlanta Falcons “Sunday Night Football” game following several head-scratching calls that benefited one team.
Despite plenty of uncharacteristic mistakes, Patrick Mahomes and the defending champions narrowly escaped Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a 22-17 road win over the Falcons. But the victory did not come without some serendipity, courtesy of questionable calls by the NFL refs.
The most controversial moment of the night came in the fourth quarter, with under five minutes remaining and the Chiefs clinging to a five-point lead. On 3rd-and-5 at the Kansas City six, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins could not connect with Kyle Pitts for the go-ahead touchdown.
But look at the replay from several angles, and you’ll see that Chiefs safety Bryan Cook committed clear-as-day and obvious blatant pass interference on Pitts. And yet, the NFL refs failed to throw a flag on the play:
A lot of contact on Kyle Pitts in the end zone…no call
Falcons end up turning it over on downs down by 5 with 4 minutes left in the game #KCvsATL pic.twitter.com/ewGqm0u8Cg
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) September 23, 2024
Tough look for this not to be DPI on the #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/tKhZxK33cm
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 23, 2024
The super legal, not at all pass interference against Kyle Pitts…#KCvsATL pic.twitter.com/2MtINvliEl
— Tony Clements (@TonyCMKE) September 23, 2024
Not to mention that there was this missed facemask penalty against Cook on Ray-Ray McCloud III following a big fourth-quarter run:
NO FACEMASKKKKK??????????
THE MAHOMES REF CHEATING IS CRAZYYYY
Ray Ray Mcloud nearly has his head pulled off and the Refs don’t even think to throw a flag in the #Falcons #Chiefs #NFL game. #dirtybirds https://t.co/czgCcE8ARH pic.twitter.com/qBgSBFmt6I
— Football Fanatics (@FFB_Fanatics) September 23, 2024
And so, some fans are now accusing the NFL refs of “rigging” Sunday night’s game for the defending Super Bowl champions:
How is this not pass interference?
Chiefs are cheating again
4th Quarter Refs wear red pic.twitter.com/ycTuxuoiCZ
— ʜᴀᴍᴍᴇʀ ᴛɪᴍᴇ🦈(ɪɴᴋ) (@HammerTimeLays) September 23, 2024
@NFL it’s crazy @Chiefs need help if that was falcons pass interfering on @tkelce that would’ve been called since it’s falcons te no call chiefs will get smacked if they didn’t have the refs in there pocket and it proves it’s rigged
— Robbieisthatyou (@Robbieisthatyou) September 23, 2024
The Falcons have to play the #Chiefs and the refs. How tf you not call this PI?#KCvsATL pic.twitter.com/PPcCG8fMEN
— Mike McDaniel (@MikMcDaniel) September 23, 2024
Same way these group of refs are cheating for the Chiefs every week was the same group that cheated and rigged calls all those years for Tom Brady and the Patriots. ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY!!
— | YokoNo 💮 (@iYess_Hou) September 23, 2024
Do the Chiefs always get bailed out by the refs? pic.twitter.com/0WTPqIWZW1
— NFL Notifications (@NFLNotify) September 23, 2024
Once again the @NFL are rigging it for the Chiefs to win…. Clearly a Pass Interference
— Drew TheThemeParkDude (@DrewTheDude123) September 23, 2024
Literally every week the Chiefs get bailed out by the refs
— Denver Broncos 365 (@DailyBroncos) September 23, 2024
Kyle Pitts gets bear hugged during this catch attempt and the refs still don’t call a penalty for Pass Interference.
I can’t make this clear enough, the Chiefs PAY the refs to WIN. #KCvsATL pic.twitter.com/woCphsjXyB
— iitsTemper (@iitsTemper) September 23, 2024
Chiefs saved by refs? pic.twitter.com/Ur1f2qPVt3
— Degenerate Bears Fan (1-2) (@Zpicksjz) September 23, 2024
Straight up mugging in the end zone and no PI called.. typical Refs love the chiefs.. #NFL #rigged #falcons
— Michael (@michaelmoz) September 23, 2024
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris refused to discuss the no-call by the NFL refs when Cooks interfered with Pitts. Per The Athletic’s Josh Kendall, Morris simply told reporters in his post-game press conference, “I like my money.”
The Chiefs (3-0) will visit the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday, while the Falcons will try and get back to .500 when they host the New Orleans Saints.
More Controversy Surrounding NFL Refs In Week 3
The Falcons weren’t the only team on the wrong end of some head-scratching calls by the NFL refs during Sunday’s games. Los Angeles Chargers star Khalil Mack was called for roughing the passer on Justin Fields despite being pushed into by a Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman.
The Arizona Cardinals also had a potential game-changing pick-six off Jared Goff taking away when the officials (seemingly prematurely) blew the whistle for the two-minute warning. The Detroit Lions went on to win by a touchdown, so that call indeed impacted the outcome of the game.
