NFL Official Justifies Decision on Controversial Kyle Pitts Call in Chiefs-Falcons

Amid the clamor over a controversial no-call between the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons on “Sunday Night Football,” NFL official Tra Blank has explained what happened.

Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts got draped by Chiefs safety Bryan Cook with the game on the line with 4:12 left in the fourth quarter. The officials didn’t call defensive pass interference and the Chiefs ultimately held on to win, 22-17.

“That is a real-time call that officials have to make a judgment on,” Blank told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “From the angle that they had at the time, they did not feel that there was a foul committed.”

Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) breaks up a pass against Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) in the end zone.

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Blank also confirmed that “pass interference is not reviewable by replay” and that “we did not feel that there was a foul committed” on the play. He also acknowledged that “we do the best we can to make that decision” during a game.

The decision didn’t sit well with fans as many voiced opinions on social media afterward. Despite the controversy surrounding the call, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris didn’t take the bait after the loss.

“I like my money that (Falcons owner) Arthur Blank gives me,” Morris told reporters on Sunday. “I’m very smart enough to be aware enough to (not) talk about officials. They made the call, or they didn’t make the call. It is what it is. We had a chance to win the football game on the last play of the game.”

Atlanta got the ball back and drove 49 yards in six plays with 2:26 left. Kansas City stopped the drive at its own 13-yard line when Nick Bolton and Leo Chenal stuffed Falcons running back Bijan Robinson on fourth down.

With the loss, Atlanta dropped to 1-2 while the Chiefs maintained their unbeaten record at 3-0.