Andy Reid reacts; Patrick Mahomes says ‘little stuff’ doesn’t get called in big moments

With just four seconds remaining in Sunday's game between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, the Chiefs faced a critical and contentious false start penalty on the one-yard line. This penalty nullified a potential game-winning touchdown if the play had been allowed. The key player involved was Chiefs right tackle Jaylon Moore, who moved five yards to the right before Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sacked on the final play.

As a result, the Chiefs and their fans were visibly upset about the call. In his postgame press conference from Empower Field at Mile High, coach Andy Reid claimed he hadn't seen a penalty. He stated, "That's one man's opinion, I saw him move his head, but I didn't see a false start."

Patrick Mahomes echoed Reid's sentiment, expressing that "it couldn't have been big, but it was called." He added, "At the end of the day, you have to go with whatever is called, but a lot of times in those big moments, the little stuff doesn't get called like that." Patrick Mahomes' wife, Brittany, took to social media to describe the call as the "weakest call I have ever seen."

However, the evidence from the game suggests otherwise. A video shows Moore flinching after the motion from tight end Travis Kelce on the play. This seemingly slight movement constitutes a false start according to the rules. Geoff Schwartz, a former player in Kansas City, agreed that it was the right call. He argued that the movement, however small, clearly constitutes a false start.

The loss provided a dramatic conclusion to an intense comeback and victory for the Broncos. Both the Broncos and Chiefs are currently ranked 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the AFC West. This controversial play is likely to fuel another fierce battle for the top spot in the division throughout the remainder of the season.