It is unclear from the CBS video whether Toney clearly checked with the sideline official or received instructions on his alignment before the play.
“At the end of the day, if they were looking for lineup advice, we’re definitely going to give it to them,” referee Carl Cheffers told snooker reporter Matt Derrick after the match. “But ultimately, they are responsible for where they line up. And, certainly, no warning is required, especially if they are lined up so far offside that they actually block our vision of the ball. So we would give them some sort of warning if it was close, but this one in particular is beyond a warning.
Toney appeared clearly in the neutral zone on the play and the flag was thrown immediately after the snap. That didn’t stop Mahomes’ frustration with the call, going so far as to complain to the Bills QB. Josh Allen on the field after the competition.
“That’s the call,” Mahomes told reporters. “Right at that moment, it’s not even about me or me, it’s just me knowing how much everyone puts into this game and for that to happen on a flag, changes the outcome d ‘one game, at that point, I played seven years and I never had that – I never had an offensive offside, I mean, that’s school primary. We talk about it, I mean, you point the finger at the ref, do all this kind of different stuff, they warn you and there was no warning the whole game and then you wait until there’s a minute in the game to make a decision like that, it’s difficult. I mean, I can’t find the words – it’s difficult because it doesn’t matter if we win or lose, just for it to end with another game and we’re talking about referees, that’s just not what we want for the NFL or for football.”
Even Allen was surprised that the flag was thrown at the Chiefs for offensive offsides.
“At first I thought it was our fault,” he said. “It’s not a flag they usually call it.”
NFL referees – and officials across sports – miss calls, just as players botch their plays. There are numerous called and unannounced penalties every week that draw the ire of players, coaches and fans . It’s brutal that this particular call erased one of the most fantastic touchdowns of 2023. If Toney fields a back the length of a shoe, the handkerchief stays in the referee’s pocket.
Mahomes, who has rejected missed calls in the past, like the defensive pass interference last week, used this play to make a stand.
“No. The fact is, I prefer to play the man. Let’s play the game,” he said. “Then whatever happens, it’s like everyone throws the flag and decides the game, that’s what hurts me. That’s why, like last week, I didn’t say anything because it’s just to let us play. Let’s go out there and win.” I said I would rather they let us play and go out there and see who wins, I mean that’s what you want as a competitor. You practice all week to go out there and try to win and you want it to be about your team and this team and see what happens. You never want to talk about stuff like that after the game and that’s it. I don’t care if there’s a flag on the next play or anything, not a flag. I want to go play and see what happens at the end, see what the score is and then I can live with the results.”
