Social media detectives think they’ve uncovered more evidence that the Kansas City Chiefs-Buffalo Bills AFC Championship Game was “rigged” following a significant game-changing call.
Josh Allen and the Bills faced a 4th-and-inches situation in Kansas City territory with 13 minutes remaining, looking to build on their one-point lead in the AFC Championship Game. The Chiefs appeared to stop Allen’s quarterback sneak, with the officials ruling him short of the marker:
The Chiefs' defense stops them on fourth down!
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
📺: #BUFvsKC on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/VwGmEZ3IrW
Interestingly, CBS commentators Jim Nantz and Tony Romo believed that Allen crossed the first-down marker. As did CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore:
The Chiefs go-ahead TD drive was set up by a ruling that Josh Allen did not get a Bills first down.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 27, 2025
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
Fans shared more photos to show that the Bills were indeed screwed by the refs here:
Looks like Josh Allen crossed the first-down marker by the CBS broadcast.
— Sportskeeda Pro Football (@SKProFootball) January 27, 2025
The refs ruled him short and the Chiefs marched down the field for Patrick Mahomes's second rushing TD of the game.@_MLFootball pic.twitter.com/3wfypoUSQx
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The #chiefs vs #BillsMafia game was so stupid! The game was rigged to have the chiefs win! Paying the refs to have them win, the refs blew the 4th and 1 play on Josh Allen when the ball was over the line! Picture down here👇
— Billy Ring (@BillyRing14) January 27, 2025
The ball was OVER THE YELLOW MARKER, FIRST DOWN! pic.twitter.com/3D3imrTdDi
For those saying officiating didn’t have an impact on this game.
— Zach Harig (@zach_harig) January 27, 2025
This was a first down on 3rd down and 3. The knee wasn’t down.
Regardless, they ruled him a whole yard short.
Josh Allen got the first down on 4th down anyhow.
Ruled Kansas City ball.
That alone was MASSIVE. pic.twitter.com/LgUyvGa07g
The Chiefs would drive down the field and take the lead on a 10-yard Patrick Mahomes rushing touchdown. They never trailed in the AFC Championship Game again, with Harrison Butker’s 35-yarder at the 3:33 mark holding up as the difference.
AFC Championship Game Did Not Disappoint
Every Josh Allen-Patrick Mahomes matchup is filled with extra hype and anticipation. This one certainly didn’t disappoint, with both superstars trading blow-for-blow in a game that really could have gone either way.
But the story stays the same: The Bills’ championship-or-bust season ends with a loss in January, while the Chiefs are headed to another big game.
