Dec 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Danny Woodhead (39) carries the ball in overtime during the Chargers 27-24 overtime win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Liu-USA TODAY Sports
According to former Vice President of NFL Officiating, Mike Pereira, the officials botched two crucial calls in the game which ended up with the Chiefs dropping a heartbreaking loss to the San Diego Chargers.
While the Chiefs had nothing on the line but pride, the Chargers were playing for their post season ticket. The Chiefs rested all but two of their starters, and the Chargers starting line-up struggled against them most of the game. For a game to be decided by the officials is a travesty.
I’ve said before that championship teams have to find a way to win despite bad officiating. I stick by that statement. However, there were two bad non-calls today that should be addressed. Thankfully, somebody who used to do it for a living has brought it light for us.
In KC/SD game, Linesman ruled that progess was stopped at the 30 before the helmet came off or the ball came loose. I don't agree. (cont)
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 30, 2013
Replay did not stop the game because the ruling of forward progress is not reviewable. Should have been a strip and TD in my opinion.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 30, 2013
Those two tweets cover the fumble that wasn’t in overtime that should have ended the game with a win for the Chiefs. The pile was clearly moving forward when the ball came out. However, because the linesman blew the play dead, it was non-reviewable. The second call, I didn’t even realize had happened.
Hate to add full to the fire, but some of my followers have pointed out that SD was in an illegal defensive formation on the missed FG
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 30, 2013
They are correct. SD had more than 6 players on one side of the center on the line of scrimmage. That is a new rule and a foul.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 30, 2013
There it is, Addicts. From the mouth of the guy who gets paid to look at this stuff. Two bad calls that should have given the Chiefs a win, but cost them a loss. This is huge, not for the Chiefs because as I said the game was meaningless in terms of the team’s seat at the playoff table, but it put the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the playoffs and the Chargers in.
Interesting. Very interesting indeed.