The NFL got two exciting overtime games on Championship Weekend, with the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams prevailing in sudden death overtime thrillers that drew rave reviews and huge ratings. It also had both of those games marred by considerably controversial officiating decisions, with Saints fans up in arms about a missed pass interference call and Chiefs fans feeling like officials gave the Patriots a break on a play that could have swung the game.
On a play where Tom Brady was ultimately intercepted, Chiefs defensive lineman Dee Ford was flagged for an offside penalty. Replays showed that he actually lined up offside, which is why the pre-snap penalty let the play happen anyway.
My view from the stands of the play that kept the Chiefs out of the Super Bowl. You will see that Dee Ford is more than a little off sides. #GoChiefs pic.twitter.com/vG3z8ROPkX
— Mike Medhurst (@MikeMedhurst) January 22, 2019
The penalty gave the Patriots the ball back, but Ford legitimately didn’t know if he was offside on the play. Video that surfaced on Tuesday revealed that Ford went back to the sideline and had to ask others there if he was really offside.
https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/1087914123919310848
In Ford’s defense, some people have pointed out that he may have been duped offside because of where the left tackle for the Patriots lined up.
So I just saw this picture of Dee Ford lined up offsides on the play that could have sent the Chiefs to the Super Bowl. But now look at Brown the LT. Dude is lined up in the backfield. How is he not called for illegal formation? @NFLOfficiating pic.twitter.com/lH6qOeBZL5
— Carp (@robcarpenter81) January 21, 2019
It won’t matter much now, though, as the results won’t change no matter what video footage emerges. But at least Chiefs fan’s haven’t, say, filed a lawsuit about it.
