5 glorious moments that drove Chiefs haters wild and fueled conspiracy theories

Once upon a time, not that long ago, it felt like the whole National Football League world was rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs. Oh, how things have changed.

Six years ago, the Chiefs, a seemingly forever cursed franchise that hadn’t won a Super Bowl in 50 years, were the feel-good story of the league. With a phenomenal young quarterback in Patrick Mahomes and the endlessly likable Andy Reid at the helm, a long-suffering team had finally reached the mountaintop, ending the New England Patriots’ dynasty in the process.

But Kansas City didn’t just end the New England dynasty, they replaced it, going on to become arguably even more dominant than the Patriots had been. The hero had become the villain.

After winning back-to-back Super Bowls, this season has been the most vexing yet for Kansas City’s opponents, with anti-Chiefs sentiment reaching an all-time high. From missed calls and close plays to “botched” referee decisions, here are the most frustrating moments for Chiefs haters.

Honorable mentions for Most Frustrating Moment for Chiefs Haters

It’s been a long, hard year for Chiefs haters, who have always managed to find something from Kansas City’s incredible run to complain about.

The fact that the Chiefs had more than five moments that really got under the skin of those detractors says a lot about how frustrated people have become with Kansas City’s success.

A coin toss, a botched snap and a game that the Chiefs rested their starters in all drove people mad, but none of them managed to crack the top five most infuriating moments.

First, there was the overtime coin toss that the Chiefs won against Tampa Bay – which drew a hilarious reaction from Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield – that added to the “luck” narrative.

The very next week, that “luck” seemed to continue after Las Vegas somehow fumbled away an opportunity to beat the Chiefs after dropping the snap within range of a potential game-winning field goal.

And Cincinnati fans and parts of the NFL community were horrified when the Chiefs, a team that had won its way into a position of privilege, rested their starters for the Week 18 game against Denver when the playoff future for the Broncos and Bengals was on the line.

All these moments had people up in arms, but it didn’t make them as mad as these top five infuriating moments for Chiefs haters.

Number 5: Out by a toe

The opening game of the new NFL season offered the first attack point for those criticizing the Chiefs—the “they’re just lucky” take.

Facing the Baltimore Ravens, the Chiefs held a touchdown lead late in the fourth quarter – but Lamar Jackson was on the march. The reigning MVP drove Baltimore down the field and delivered what looked to be a crucial touchdown to tight end Isaiah Likely as time expired.

The Ravens quickly showed they wanted to go for a two-point conversion and the win, but there was a hold-up. The replay booth had stepped in.

Replays showed while Likely had indeed caught the pass, he had not landed in bounds – by the slimmest of margins. The very tip of his toe hit the white paint at the back of the endzone, negating the touchdown and securing a Chiefs victory.

Likely himself was not impressed after the game, offering this assessment of Kansas City’s chances moving forward.

The Chiefs had just won an AFC Championship rematch but only because of luck, Kansas City’s detractors said. That sentiment would become even louder a few weeks later.

Number 4: Ohhhhhhhhh! Blocked!

Fast forward two months, the Chiefs were 8-0 and had the equal-best record in the NFL, but those claiming it was down to luck had become more vocal – a pass interference call against Cincinnati and an overtime win over Tampa Bay after winning the coin toss saw to that.

Those “luck” cries soon reached fever pitch after Kansas City’s insane walk-off win over Denver.

Kansas City looked decidedly ordinary against the Broncos and their rookie QB Bo Nix, trailing 14-3 at the half. The Chiefs eventually clawed their way back to lead 16-14 in the fourth quarter, but Denver still had plenty of time to orchestrate a game-winning drive of its own—and it seemed like they would do just that.

The Broncos chewed up more than five minutes of the game clock as they slowly and methodically drove down to the red zone, setting up a chip shot field goal to win the game. The 35-yard kick seemed like a layup that would end Kansas City’s undefeated run. It wasn’t and it didn’t.

Linebacker Leo Chenal steamrolled a Broncos lineman before getting his hand up to block the kick, denying Denver’s shot at victory. Broncos fans and Chiefs haters alike were left pulling their hair out in equal parts frustration and disbelief. The “lucky” Chiefs had done it again.

Number 3: A pass interference no-call

A baffling and pervasive belief has wormed its way into the NFL world: the idea that NFL referees are deliberately favoring the Chiefs. That notion started back in Week 2 against Cincinnati.

A week after a “lucky” win over Baltimore, non-Chiefs fans probably thought karma was going to bite Kansas City against the arch-rival Bengals.

Trailing by two points, Mahomes and the Chiefs had two minutes to orchestrate a game-winning drive in a contest that, at the time, seemed like it could potentially shape the race for the AFC’s top playoff seeds.

The game was on the line as Kansas City faced a 4th-&-16 near midfield. The Chiefs were in trouble. Mahomes dropped back and heaved a hopeful pass towards Rashee Rice. It was broken up, but not legally.

Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony got to Rice too early, crashing through his back before the ball had reached them. A flag was—correctly—thrown for defensive pass interference, giving the Chiefs a vital first down.

The 29-yard penalty not only meant the Chiefs kept the ball, but it put them on the cusp of field goal range. Four plays later, Harrison Butker drilled a 51-yarder to win Kansas City the game.

Whether you agree with the pass interference rule and the way it is tilted towards offensive players or not, there is no logical argument against the penalty. Anthony clearly made contact early,

That Cincinnati went on to miss the playoffs by one game just added to the frustration for Bengals fans.

That play turned out to be the start of an outlandish referee conspiracy theory against the Chiefs, that would only become more and more prominent.

Number 2: Roughing the passer

As the season went on, the sentiment about why the Chiefs were so good shifted. No longer were they just considered “lucky”. They had won so many one-score games in a row that there had to be more to why Kansas City couldn’t lose than luck or skill.

Refereeing decisions became the next talking point. And while the notion had gathered momentum throughout the season, it went to a whole other level in the playoffs when the Chiefs faced the Houston Texans.

The Chiefs took care of business against Houston in a game that, while close at times, always felt within Kansas City’s grasp. But after the game, all the talk was about two roughing the passer calls that the Chiefs received.

First, Mahomes was hit high by Texans d-lineman Will Anderson Jr in the opening quarter – a penalty that gave the Chiefs a first down when they otherwise would have been forced to punt.

Those angry at the call were later furious when a second flag was thrown—and rightfully so—against Houston for another unnecessary roughness foul. This time, two Texans converged on a scrambling Mahomes, crashing into him as he slid to the ground, making contact with his head and drawing the flag.

Shouts of referee bias, favoritism, and the game being rigged so the Chiefs would win exploded on social media, even though both penalties were legitimate, and determined to be so by the NFL.

Those claims continued in the days after the game, with Adam Schefter pouring fuel to the fire. Chiefs hate was almost at an all-time high. Almost …

Number one: A fourth down stop, a phantom flag and a debatable catch

This was the most infuriating game of the year for Chiefs haters.

Kansas City was on the brink of history heading into the AFC Championship game against Buffalo, looking to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champion to reach a third consecutive Super Bowl

The Chiefs became the first team ever to accomplish that feat thanks to a 32-29 win over the Bills, a result that Chiefs critics said was again handed to them by the referees.

The first maddening moment for those rooting against the Chiefs came on a controversial catch call.

Buffalo’s Cole Bishop and Kansas City’s Xavier Worthy both leapt for a 50-50 ball tossed up by Mahomes. Bishop got first hands to it but Worthy seemed to control it most last, with the ball also hitting the ground at one point too.

The call on the field was a catch by Worthy, and it stood after a review. It wasn’t the only time a replay review would enrage people.

Facing a fourth and short in the last quarter, Buffalo needed less than a yard for a first down as they tried to build on a one-point lead.

The Bills ran a sneak play with Josh Allen, and it was close. One side seemed to think Allen made it, but another on the opposite side disagreed, and it was the latter’s opinion that ultimately decided the spot. Outrage flowed on social media.

Those already subscribed to the refereeing conspiracy theory latched on. Soon, they’d get even madder.

On Buffalo’s final offensive possession, Allen launched a heave-and-hope ball toward Dalton Kincaid on the 4th down that would decide the Bills’ season. The ball made it to a diving Kincaid, but it slipped through his arms, incomplete.

On the broadcast, a penalty indicator flashed up. Was there a flag on the play that would give the Bills a first down and keep their drive and their season alive? No, there wasn’t. The indicator was put up on the scoreboard bug, but All 22 footage showed that no official ever threw a flag.

But once again, this was just more proof to those under the conspiracy spell that the NFL was rigged for Kansas City, who claimed the referees threw the marker in case the play didn’t go Kansas City’s way and picked it up when it did.

It’s a totally ludicrous and false theory, but those who don’t like the Chiefs cling to it as a sad last resort to discredit their success.

And so, those who were craving the Chiefs to fall at any hurdle, had to sit and watch Kansas City celebrate its third trip to the Super Bowl in as many seasons.

On Sunday, they could very well have to watch the Chiefs hoist their third straight Lombardi trophy too, furious.