Patrick Mahomes did not like this call, a breakdown
What Happened
In the Chiefs' Week 14 game at Buffalo on December 10, 2023, Kansas City trailed by three late when Mahomes hit Travis Kelce on a second-and-10 from around the Bills' 25. Kelce broke a couple tackles, then flipped a lateral to Kadarius Toney, who jogged into the end zone for what looked like the go-ahead score. The problem: Toney lined up well past the line of scrimmage, drawing an offensive offsides flag that was thrown before the ball was even snapped. The touchdown came off the board, the drive stalled, and the Bills held on to win 20-17.
Why This Matters
Offensive offsides is almost never called, which is exactly why it stung. Officials usually warn a wideout if he's creeping past the line, but referee Carl Cheffers explained afterward that Toney was so far offsides he was blocking the view of the ball, so no warning was owed. Mahomes had a point that the penalty didn't affect how the play unfolded, but the flag was up before Kelce's lateral magic, so the result was irrelevant. The loss dropped Kansas City to 8-5 in a season where their offense kept misfiring, and the Toney miscue became a symbol of the receiver issues that dogged them all year. They still won the Super Bowl, but Mahomes ripping the call on the sideline, helmet off and teammates holding him back, became one of the year's lasting images of a frustrated MVP.
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Key Moments
Who / What Is Involved
Players: Patrick Mahomes.
Key Terms Mentioned
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentPatrick Mahomes got mad.
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Buffalo's up by three, but Allen's getting a little nervous
because Mahomes and the Chiefs are driving downfield.
Second and 10, minute 20 left.
Throws it to Kelsey, who grabs it, makes one miss, makes two miss.
Throws it back to Tony, who catches it and has the open lane.
Touchdown, lead, Chiefs.
What a play.
Kelsey's great.
Oh, wait.
Oh, my God.
He can't believe it.
Allen's like, oh, flag.
And they're like, flag?
Flag for what?
Oh, offense, number 19, offsides, second down.
Oh, no.
He lined up offsides.
He's lining up offsides.
Usually they ask the ref and they're like, my good?
And then he's like, hey, move back.
Or, no, you're good.
Guess that didn't happen here.
He's very offsides.
And it negates the whole play.
And a lot of people are saying, and even Mahomes was like,
it had nothing to do with the outcome of the play.
How could it negate the play?
It had nothing to do with the outcome of the play.
And I agree with that.
But the counter would be, well, they didn't call it after knowing what the play was.
The flag's up in the air well before that awesome play.
You know?
Maybe that ref, he's like, shit, I'd rather that play stand, too.
Well, he doesn't know what's going to happen.
He just calls what he's seeing.
That's egregious, he said.
Let's watch the play again because it is awesome.
You think 47 might tackle him?
Nope.
I don't even know if he saw him.
And then, oh, big old leap to make him miss.
Switches the ball.
Knows exactly what he's going to do.
Perfect spiral with the glove on.
Is he going to block some more?
No, he's just going to celebrate, have some fun, enjoy the touchdown, and lead.
Psych.
It got called back because he lined up offsides.
They asked the ref, said, don't they give warnings sometimes?
And he responded to them.
He said, yes.
Ultimately, if they look for alignment advice,
certainly we're going to give it to them.
But ultimately, they are responsible for wherever they line up.
And certainly, no warning is required,
especially if they are lined up so far offsides
where they're actually blocking our view of the ball.
So we would give them some sort of a warning if it was anywhere close.
But this particular one is beyond a warning.
Basically, yeah, we try to help out, but this one was bad.
He was lining up offsides.
So it didn't count.
Second and 15.
They still got to play the game out.
They still got a lot of time on the clock.
They can still make a play.
Oh, no, he's sacked.
Oh, he gets the ball off.
And this doesn't matter, and we'll be forgotten forever.
But let's do it.
Let's do it.
Let's do it.
Let's do it.
Let's watch it because it's so impressive that he avoids taking the sack there
and gets that throw off anywhere near a receiver.
Now it's third and 15.
Make a play.
Do some magic.
Oliver, 91, gets his hand up.
That ball drops.
Oh, boy.
Now the frustration's building.
Mahomes, they take a timeout, but Mahomes is upset.
He's thinking about that play.
This woman is very nervous and warm.
Mahomes walking to the sideline thinking, offensive offsides?
What?
Offense goes to the ref.
Like, how are you going to call offensive offsides?
What are you talking about?
Coach says, hey, hey, don't worry about it.
Let's win it right here.
Come on.
We got one play left.
She's nervous.
Also warm.
That looks like a cozy blanket.
Fourth and 15.
Make a memory.
Make a memory.
No, they lose.
And now the focus is mostly on the calls.
He goes to the sideline.
He's pretty upset.
Takes the helmet off.
Teammates have to hold him back.
What are you doing making that call?
Offensive.
Off sides.
I've never seen anyone call that in my life.
What the heck?
Takes the helmet.
They draw a circle.
It's a quick circle.
Lefty smash helmet.
They take a knee once.
That is terrible, man.
We're playing our fucking asses off just for you to fuck the call.
Offensive offsides.
Are you kidding me?
What are you talking about?
That is fucking terrible, man.
Bill's taking the again.
They win the game.
Says that's the worst fucking call I've ever seen.
That's the worst fucking call ever, man.
Man.
Hey, let's go, baby.
Good job.
Nice job.
Longest fucking call I've ever seen.
Offensive offsides in that moment, man.
Fucking terrible.
Fucking worst call.
He's not happy about it.
Alan's like, hey, man, nice throw.
Sorry, it didn't count.
Fucking terrible, man.
And there you have it.
He got real mad at the call.
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