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NFL media members are blasting officials in the AFC Championship game for a holding call that went against the Chiefs. The call ultimately erased a touchdown at the end of the first half.
Leading 14-7 late in the second quarter, Kansas City took over deep in their own territory. Inside the two-minute warning, Patrick Mahomes was able to march his offense down the field in hopes of adding to the lead.
The Chiefs faced a crucial 3rd-and-4 as they neared the redzone, and they appeared to get a first down thanks to Mahomes’ legs. The quarterback scrambled for nine yards on a play that would later be negated by a holding penalty.
After being backed up, Kansas City then made the perfect play call on 3rd-and-14.
Mahomes threw a screen pass to Rashee Rice who raced 33 yards for a touchdown to push the Chiefs’ lead to two scores – or so it appeared!
That, too, would be called back for holding, and social media immediately reacted.
Neither one of those was holding. #Chiefs
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 28, 2024
“WOW that’s a terrible hold on Trey – the second one. He’s getting out on a screen. The refs see the ‘slingshot’ technique arm around the DT but if that’s the standard for getting out on screen blocks that’s ridiculous. And they’ve let go much worse all game today,” said Mitchell Schwartz.
“That is a TERRIBLE holding call,” said Mike Golic Jr.
“That’s not a hold. Wow,” wrote Booger McFarland.
Others pointed to similar situations not penalized earlier in the game.
If they are gonna call that soft hold on Trey Smith you gotta call this on the Ravens 4th down & 1 play pic.twitter.com/P3NsTuD48k
— Braiden Turner (@bturner23) January 28, 2024
Both calls went against offensive lineman Trey Smith.
It is worth noting that the drive was kickstarted by a pair of personal fouls that went against the Ravens. In the end, Kansas City settled for a long field to take a 17-7 lead into the halftime break.