The Kansas City Chiefs edged out a victory against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, sparking conspiracies about “rigged” officiating due to the many lucky breaks referees appeared to hand Kansas City in the second half.
Though every NFL game will offer a botched call or two from officials, the referees on Sunday offered several head-scratching moments especially toward the end as the Cincinnati Bengals picked up the pace to tie the game. In one particular incident, the referees went as far as to give the Kansas City Chiefs a full extra play after the Bengals stopped them on third down after an official allegedly tried to break up the play before the snap. Since no team appeared to hear the whistle, the play went as scheduled and the Bengals forced a fourth down; the referees gave the Chiefs an extra play anyway.
This play was blown dead by the refs and the Chiefs got another play out of itpic.twitter.com/m0oS4rjxi1
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) January 30, 2023
The “rigged” conspiracy theories only worsened as the game unfolded, especially when the officials appeared to overlook a blatant holding violation by the Chiefs as quarterback Patrick Mahomes ran the ball for a first down, picking up an extra 15 yards due to a roughing the passer call. The Chiefs would go on to score a field goal to seal the victory in the last seconds of the game.
two absolute blatant holding calls missed. nfl rigged pic.twitter.com/CWGU6YhMkK
— john sund (@sundjohn) January 30, 2023
Even Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance got in on the outrage.
Stop the steal!
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) January 30, 2023
Refs had this on lock… both games.#BoycottTheSuperBowl @nfl take notice…we all are. @NFLOfficiating @NFLCommish #Rigged #Corrupt https://t.co/WKrRSvqquZ
— Ships Have Sailed (@ShipsHaveSailed) January 30, 2023
Huge block in the back missed by NFL rigged refs. Bottom of the screen at the 45. Insane. pic.twitter.com/md9SN604lc
— Chris (@BostonIndycar) January 30, 2023
I genuinely despise the Bengals, but as a Steelers fan my blood is boiling for them. No block in the back here??
I wish referees could just, ya know, do their job. #NFLRigged
— Cory Tucek (@Cory_Tucek) January 30, 2023
Player of the game #NFLrigged #NFCChampionship pic.twitter.com/Vq5kHHpl9O
— Natalie Hastings she/her #SOSNicaragua (@nataliehastings) January 30, 2023
Frame by frame … do better @NFL 🏈 @tonyromo knows too! #NFLRigged #NFL #Bengals #BurrowHead #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/sDYOYZqIpQ
— Clint Erbacher (@ClintErbacherTV) January 30, 2023
Everyone calling out nfl rigged but announcers act like it was a normal game. Unbelievable. #nflrigged
— John J. Dawson (@John_J_Dawson) January 30, 2023
Maybe the most NFL rigged moment of all time. Script writers are gonna be getting major raises after this game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TDseQrmHxA
— Patrick Sullivan (@Paddy_Sully) January 30, 2023
Worst officiating game I’ve ever watched. The chiefs couldn’t win on their own so they needed the refs to help them. Even the coach on the bengals thinks so. You can see him comment that it is after the field goal. #nflrigged #BengalsvsChiefs #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/jjxvnUxHcE
— Heyit’sHill (@HillsBrannen) January 30, 2023
How many holds you get? #NFLRigged pic.twitter.com/0BOM96ar7r
— ARISTOCRASTEVE (@MunnyMakinSteve) January 30, 2023
The 4th quarter was one of worst officiated quarters ever, the only proof you need that #NFLRigged, is the refs giving Kansas City a second chance on 3rd down. I mean what in the fuck? It needs investigating or the #NFL is turning into WWE #CINvsKC pic.twitter.com/EGBIHe6FQM
— Jay Henry (@jayhenry79) January 30, 2023
Bengals got robbed tonight , worst officiated game i’ve ever seen. The refs missed 3 holds on the kc Oline before making that horrible call to put the chiefs in field goal rang. Disgusted bengals didn’t deserve this. #nflrigged
— Drew Woods (@DrewWoo94940264) January 30, 2023
The @nfl is COMPLETELY rigged.
I for one will NOT be tuning in for the #SuperBowl #NFLRigged https://t.co/kujekE5Opq
— Ships Have Sailed (@ShipsHaveSailed) January 30, 2023
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