It seems as if every Kansas City Chiefs game features critical plays with official rulings that spark controversy, and Sunday’s AFC Championship was no exception. Early in the fourth quarter, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen attempted a sneak on fourth down but was ruled short by officials on the field.
In the CBS Sports booth, play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and color analyst Tony Romo, along with rules analyst Gene Steratore, discussed the contentious play. Nantz noted that the line judges on either side of the field had differing opinions on the ball’s location. After a review confirmed the original call, awarding possession to Kansas City, Romo expressed surprise, remarking, “Wow! That’s so close, whatever the call was, I don’t think you can overturn it.”
Nantz sought Steratore’s perspective, to which Steratore replied, “I felt like he gained it by about a third of the football. That is just my take on the play. Tough, tough play.” Nantz agreed, emphasizing the difficulty of the situation.
The Chiefs go-ahead TD drive was set up by a ruling that Josh Allen did not get a Bills first down.
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Gene Steratore react to the ruling.
“Wow.” – Romo
“I felt like he gained it by about a third of the football…” -Steratore
“I agree.” – Nantz 🏈🦓🎙️ https://t.co/R4Xs0phM0P pic.twitter.com/8xvT1t1rdn
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 27, 2025
The broadcast later showcased an overhead replay of the crucial fourth down, illustrating the two officials approaching from opposite sides with seemingly different ball placements. “Watch him up here, he’s in front of the line … he’s below the line. Those are two very different spots,” Romo stated. “That was as important a call as either of these teams have had all season.”
Kansas City seized possession and quickly scored a touchdown. Although the Bills managed to tie the game later, Kansas City clinched the victory with a late field goal, finishing 32-29. The outcome might have been different had Buffalo converted that crucial first down, igniting a flurry of furious fans on social media claiming the Bills were robbed.
