With the AFC Championship Game generating extensive conversation around which teams and quarterbacks received beneficial calls, the possibility of an officiating controversy after the game always loomed. This time, however, it was unique.
As the Buffalo Bills trailed 32-29 and approached a crucial fourth down just after the two-minute warning, the Kansas City Chiefs unleashed a blitz, compelling Josh Allen to scramble for time. Despite Allen’s off-balance throw making its way downfield, tight end Dalton Kincaid couldn’t secure the pass, resulting in a turnover on downs. But did it truly end there?
With Kansas City celebrating and a dejected Buffalo team departing the field, CBS announcer Jim Nantz remarked, “There is a flag,” immediately followed by a graphic indicating a “Flag” on the screen. However, color analyst Tony Romo expressed confusion, stating, “I didn’t see a flag thrown there.” Nantz reiterated, “I’m told there’s a flag,” but amid the chaos, players seemed unfazed, as Romo continued to assess the play. Then, Nantz could be heard clarifying, “No flag.”
CBS just made the world think that there was a flag on the Bills’ crucial fourth-down play in the AFC Championship Game. 🏈📺🎙️😬 #NFL pic.twitter.com/cqzODHznGC
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 27, 2025
Romo continued breaking down the play, but before Kansas City initiated their first offensive play of the next series, Nantz sought to clarify the situation, stating, “We got the report from the sideline that there had been a flag, but there was no flag. There was no penalty at all.” Interestingly, Kevin Harlin and Devin McCourty, providing the radio commentary for Westwood One, also claimed a flag had been thrown. “Flag has been thrown,” Harlan noted. “And a late flag at that.” McCourty speculated that it might have involved Dion Dawkins, who reportedly took his helmet off.
Calling the game on radio, Kevin Harlan and Devin McCourty also said there was a flag. https://t.co/CVIgJ0ZmcG pic.twitter.com/GdovouoIgd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 27, 2025
“And that was the penalty,” Harlan confirmed, while McCourty later mentioned, “I guess they picked the flag up.” In terms of officiating controversies, this wasn’t among the most significant of the day or even the game. It’s unclear who was at fault—it might have been a spotter, someone in the production truck, or an official who mistakenly threw a flag and then retracted it, hoping it would go unnoticed.
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Regardless of who is responsible, the mistake occurred at a highly critical moment.
