What is pass interference? NFL fans are asking themselves that question, blast referees after final drive in Packers-Chiefs game.
Chiefs Kingdom will have some bad blood with the officials after their 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers on "Sunday Night Football."
And Packers fans weren't exactly writing a love story to the referees, either, for a moment late in the fourth quarter.
The Packers pulled off the upset for their third straight win, but a series of plays has everyone talking with many believing they got a break from the refs.
Then again, the Chiefs might have gotten a call in their favor on that same drive.
Packers safety Jonathan Owens was called for unnecessary roughness on a hit to Patrick Mahomes with 1:05 left in the game. The Chiefs quarterback was going toward the sideline after scrambling for 10 yards. But when Owens delivered his hit on Mahomes the two-time MVP was still in bounds. A flag was still thrown.
Jonathan Owens was flagged for a late hit on Patrick Mahomes on this play. pic.twitter.com/rpTBgajBAW
— ESPN (@espn) December 4, 2023
The 15-yard penalty certainly fired up Packers injured left tackle David Bakhtiari from home.
"Established himself as a runner," Bakhtiari wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Didn't give himself up. Was in bounds. That's so bad. Bull----."
Here's how PackersNews reporter Ryan Wood viewed the situation.
Patrick Mahomes' foot was literally inbounds when Jonathan Owens hit him. Not out of bounds. I get protecting the best QBs in this game, but you have to let them play within the white lines.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 4, 2023
Refs don't call pass interference in Chiefs' final drive against the Packers
It was only the beginning for the refs in this wild ending.
That's because there were two more plays in the finale minute that have NFL fans, and especially Chiefs fans, outraged.
The first occurred two plays after that late hit call. Mahomes went deep to former Packers wideout Marquez Valdez-Scantling.
Rookie Carrington Valentine was draped over him and leapt up to swat the ball with his left arm as it arrived, grabbing Valdez-Scantling in the process. As they both fell to the field, Valentine was on top of the Chiefs' receiver's back. No flag was thrown.
There was no penalty for pass interference on this late play between Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Carrington Valentine. pic.twitter.com/FFh6BjWx1N
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 4, 2023
As the broadcast showed the replay, NBC's Cris Collinsworth said multiple times: "that's got to be a foul."
NBC Sports' Terry McAulay, who serves as an on-air rules analyst, agreed.
McAulay said the game was well officiated until the crew "lost something at the end."
"Obvious pass interference," McAulay said. "He plays right through his back. Should have been called."
Rules analyst Terry McAulay breaks down whether there should have been pass interference on either of these deep balls. pic.twitter.com/QBAEnz6f2I
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 4, 2023
Then, on the game's final play, on 4th-and-10 at the Green Bay 33-yard line, Mahmoes threw it in the end zone amid a crowded field of Packers and Chiefs players.
Pass interference is rarely called on a final Hail Mary, but McAuley again pointed out one could have been warranted after Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was pushed in the back as players fought for position.
"This is a defensive pass interference," McAuley contested.
Kelce shook off the non-calls after the game.
"I ain't gonna blame this on anybody but ourselves," said Kelce, who finished with four catches for 81 yards and zero touchdowns.
young kelce would’ve cussed out the refs 😭 https://t.co/gpgMCyab49
— yris (@cmebeyiris) December 4, 2023
There are always going to be plays that fans and players don't agree with but they especially get magnified in the closing moments. That was the case in this nationally-televised game that featured several celebrities in attendance.
Regardless of your allegiance, all corners of social media were left wondering what the refs were looking at on the final drive.
Me still trying to understand why Jonathan Owens was called for a penalty on a “late hit”… pic.twitter.com/bRNmaYsR5v
— Marisa Tigney (@LovelymarisaT) December 4, 2023
That is a HORRIBLE penalty call on Jonathan Owens.
Matt LaFleur agrees.— Jacob Westendorf (@JacobWestendorf) December 4, 2023
What's pass interference? NFL Twitter are in disbelief over the non-calls on Chiefs' final drive vs. Packers
“That’s gotta be a foul..
This is defensive pass interference”
🤔🤔🤔
pic.twitter.com/RzePUVDWKl— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) December 4, 2023
If you’re gonna talk about all the missed calls on the drive, quit focusing on KC - look at the terrible penalty on the clean hit by Owens on Mahomes and then the line judge not winding the clock when forward progress stopped.
— Matt Capelle (@mrcapelle) December 4, 2023
No pass interference? 🤔pic.twitter.com/UmGuNtwM6U
— SuperBook Sports (@SuperBookSports) December 4, 2023
What’s a catch? 🤝 What’s pass interference? 🤝 What’s roughing the passer?
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) December 4, 2023
These refs are terrible.
HOW was this not pass interference?!
pic.twitter.com/kCZMxntJMm— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 4, 2023
I think the MVS no-call might have been a make up for the baloney personal foul against Mahomes.
But that Kelce contact on the hail mary wasn't even close to warranting a call, I don't care how much Collinsworth cries.— Bruce Irons (@BruceIronsNFL) December 4, 2023
NFL refs, watch out for a Taylor Swift song after not calling pass interference
The Taylor Swift song about NFL referees is going to absolutely rip
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) December 4, 2023
SOCIAL MEDIA REACTS: Jordan Love's performance in Packers' win over Chiefs generates a lot of attention
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NFL fans rip referees for missed calls in Chiefs vs Packers game