The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills will clash in the AFC championship on Sunday, marking a rematch after the Bills had previously bested the Chiefs in their earlier encounter this season. The Bills have emerged as the only team capable of defeating the Chiefs’ starters, and fans of Kansas City might find it concerning that the NFL has permitted the Bills to continue circumventing an important rule in their quest for a Super Bowl victory.
During a recent game, no penalty was called when Buffalo guard O’Cyrus Torrence pulled running back James Cook into the end zone. According to Pro Football Talk’s source, officials will not penalize such actions throughout the playoffs, as changing the enforcement of this rule at this stage would be inconsistent with how it has been handled throughout the season. “Instructing them to call it now would represent too much of a change from the enforcement of the rules to date in the 2024 season,” the source explained.
Fans have taken to social media to express their thoughts on the situation. One user remarked, “It’s not a penalty if you are pulling on the defender who is trying to tackle the runner. Technically, you are not pulling on your teammate. Many times you will see someone pulling on a defender then letting go when the defender loses their grasp on the runner.” Another fan added, “If the Eagles can push, shouldn’t teams be able to pull? Not really a difference.” Reflecting on a previous incident, yet another fan said, “I remember the Steelers got away with it earlier in the season. I thought ‘well here comes a flag.’”
Given these developments, the Chiefs might find it advantageous to consider adopting a similar strategy.
