This may have been the worst referee show we’ve seen in the NFL in some time.
The Green Bay Packers bested the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday 27-19, dealing yet another blow to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, the Chiefs final drive was marred with officiating mistakes on both sides of the ball, impacting both Kansas City and Green Bay in a frustrating sequence of events.
First, Patrick Mahomes was the beneficiary of a ticky tack personal foul call while running the ball out of bounds. Jonathan Owens delivered a big hit on Mahomes, but was in bounds while doing so, which should have made this play legal. And yet, the Packers were fouled on the play, moving the Chiefs up 15 yards.
"This is NOT a personal foul. Should not have been called."- NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay #SNF pic.twitter.com/NQQsulA70N
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 4, 2023
Then, a few plays later, the umpires took way too long getting a call right involving Rashee Rice, who was down before fumbling the ball in a crucial sequence. But all of that was forgotten about after Carrington Valentine committed the most obvious pass interference of all time — which would have put the Chiefs inside the 10-yard line — yet wasn’t flagged for the play.
Unbelievable that no flag is thrown here, would’ve put the Chiefs inside the 10 #KCvsGB pic.twitter.com/MKQQDVMQpC
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) December 4, 2023
No defensive PI called on this play. pic.twitter.com/fBRzVqHFi2
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 4, 2023
And finally, to cap things off, the referees turned the other way on Mahomes’ Hail Mary attempt to Travis Kelce, as the tight end was interfered with on his way up to make a play on the ball.
i appreciate that everyone knows PI isn't a thing on Hail Marys so Jonathan Owens can just straight up shove Travis Kelce while the ball's in the air and Kelce doesn't even complain pic.twitter.com/aKtYMI03Gz
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) December 4, 2023
Overall, it wasn’t a great night for the officials out in Green Bay and NFL fans let their thoughts be heard on Twitter after the game.
Refereeing is hilarious. You just do whatever you want! It's just vibes!
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) December 4, 2023
These refs are horrible both ways
— The Cookie Expert (@JeffAllen71) December 4, 2023
This may be the worst officiating crew I’ve ever seen for both sides. This is replacement ref bad.
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) December 4, 2023
The officiating has been embarrassing, even by the current officiating standard.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 4, 2023
These refs have to be held accountable in some way. Those are two of the worst calls in a critical moment that I may have seen in a long long time.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) December 4, 2023
The refs on this drive pic.twitter.com/IE4Nv8ABwr
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) December 4, 2023
Booth ref disagreeing with field refs three times in a row has to be a record.
— Mick Shaffer (@mickshaffer) December 4, 2023
It's absolutely incredible that millions of people watching at home know what happened within seconds, but the on field refs do not.
Fix the system. Free Common Sense.
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) December 4, 2023
One thing all NFL fans can agree on:
The refs suck
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) December 4, 2023
