NFL Makes Official Decision On Referees From AFC Championship Game Following Controversial Game-Changing Call That Sent The Chiefs To The Super Bowl

AFC Championship Game (Photo via CBS)
The NFL has made a decision on the referees who took charge of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

The Chiefs are through to another Super Bowl after a marginal 32-29 win that, unsurprisingly, was not free of controversy.

The refs have come under scrutiny for a questionable call after ruling that Josh Allen did not get a first down after the Bills decided to go for it with a quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter, although replays appeared to show that the QB did get the ball past the line.

NFL fans have been calling for the officials to be fired, with Barstool Sports owner suggesting that they should go to prison. However, the NFL appears to be backing lead referee Clete Blakeman and his crew.

According to Pro Football Talk, the league didn’t even make a head official available to a pool reporter following the contest.

AFC Championship Game Decision Suggests NFL Agrees With Officials

Referees speaking to reporters after games isn’t automatic, but it’s still strange that none of them were available to the press after the game, which indicates that the league is standing behind the decision.

The surprising call may have cost the Bills a trip to the Super Bowl as they had the momentum up until that point. The turnover on downs was a costly one, given that the Chiefs took the lead shortly after and never looked back, while Buffalo also failed on another fourth-down attempt later in the game.

Patrick Mahomes, who rushed for the go-ahead TD, is now 4-0 against Allen in the playoffs.