The Kansas City Chiefs found themselves at the center of controversy during the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, following a pivotal call late in the first half.

With 3:13 left in the second quarter, the Chiefs faced 3rd-and-5 when quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambled to avoid pressure and threw a contested pass to rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy.

Both Worthy and Bills safety Cole Bishop leaped for the ball, with Bishop appearing to have initial control in midair. However, as the two players came to the ground, Worthy managed to secure the ball with his arm.

The officials ruled the play a completed catch by Worthy, awarding the ball to Kansas City.

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To compound matters for Buffalo, a defensive holding penalty against the Bills meant that even if the catch had been overturned, possession would have remained with the Chiefs.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott immediately challenged the ruling on the field, arguing that replay footage showed the tip of the football making contact with the ground during the catch.

Despite the apparent evidence, the officials upheld their decision, confirming the catch and denying the Bills a potential turnover.

The Chiefs capitalized on the controversial call just a few plays later when Mahomes ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown, extending Kansas City’s lead to 21-10.

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The decision did not sit well with Buffalo fans or NFL spectators. Many took to social media to voice their frustrations, pointing out what they perceived as another instance of the Chiefs benefiting from questionable officiating.

Similar accusations arose after Kansas City’s divisional-round victory over the Houston Texans, where several calls were also scrutinized for allegedly favoring the Chiefs.

During the week leading up to the AFC Championship, Mahomes was asked about claims of favoritism toward his team.

The star quarterback dismissed the notion, emphasizing his focus on the game.

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“I don’t feel that way,” Mahomes said. “I just try to play football at the end of the day. The referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and proper as best they can.

“For me, it’s go out there, play hard, try to do whatever I can to win the football game and then live with the results based on my effort and how I play the game, and that’s what we preach here in Kansas City.”

While the Chiefs’ win pushes them to another Super Bowl appearance, the controversy surrounding the officiating has cast a shadow over the game.

For the Bills, the loss marked a bitter end to their season, with fans and players alike left wondering how different the outcome might have been if the call had gone their way.

As the NFL faces increased scrutiny over officiating consistency, the debate over this critical call will likely linger, adding another chapter to the storied rivalry between Kansas City and Buffalo.

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