Call it luck, call it skill — maybe you can call it a conspiracy. No matter how you slice it, the Chiefs survived another dogfight, emerging worthy victors after colliding with Joe Burrow and a formidable Bengals squad in, 26-23 in Week 2.
Kansas City (2-0) didn’t look at its best for much of the contest. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes fired two passes into Bengals grasps, one of which was accentuated with an elegant one-handed INT from Cincinnati showman Cam Taylor-Britt.
The Bengals (0-2) appeared on the cusp of a momentous victory at Arrowhead Stadium, particularly after the Chiefs were docked 10 yards for an illegal hands-to-the-face penalty, setting up a daunting fourth-and-16 at their own 35-yard line.
Despite the precarious nature of its field position, Kansas City came through the mire unscathed. The biggest reason why? A defensive pass interference call. Here’s what you need to know.
Chiefs-Bengals pass-interference
Mahomes dropped back, scrambled, and fired a dart toward Raushee Rice, and hoped for the best. The ball spurned his outstretched grasp and dwindled harmlessly towards the turf. Cincinnati appeared to have clinched the victory.
Then, tragedy struck. Out came the referee’s rancid hanky, all bright and jaundiced. The line judge had ruled that Rice had been impeded in his attempt to corral Mahomes’ effort. A defensive pass interference was called at the spot of the foul — the Bengals’ 36-yard line.
Three plays later and it was Kansas City frolicking across the field, beneficiaries of a call that had Cincy fans the world over feeling the blues.
