The Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated after coming out on top over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce led the way, though it was Kareem Hunt who scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime to give the Chiefs the hard-fought 30-24 triumph.
While the result will likely go down well with Chiefs fans, there were plenty of neutrals who voiced their belief that the game was rigged in Kansas City’s favor due to some questionable calls.
NFL fans think the referees helped the Chiefs
There were three specific moments that didn’t go down well with neutral fans on social media.
The first was when Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles opted to kick an extra point inside the final minute instead of going for a game-winning two-point conversion.
It proved costly, as Tampa Bay didn’t get the ball in overtime and the Chiefs scored a touchdown to win the game.
The second moment involved Baker Mayfield’s reaction to Kansas City winning the overtime coin toss. Mayfield picked the wrong side, allowing the Chiefs to get the ball first, march down the field and score the game-winning touchdown.
Lastly, fans couldn’t believe that Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor wasn’t flagged for what many felt was a blatant offside before Hunt scored his touchdown.
That led to several fans stating their belief that the game was rigged in the Chiefs’ favor.
“Can’t tell me the NFL isn’t rigged for the Chiefs. Missed calls every game in their favor,” said one fan.
Another wrote: “Funny how the refs never call false start on the Chiefs. NFL is rigged.”
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Patrick Mahomes overcomes major injury scare to inspire dramatic overtime win for Chiefs against Bucs
Patrick Mahomes gave the Kansas City Chiefs a huge scare on Monday night before going on to inspire a dramatic overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Chiefs continued their perfect start to the season after a thrilling encounter at Arrowhead Stadium, where Kareem AJ Hunt scored the winning touchdown on their first overtime drive.
Nevertheless, this was far from a straightforward night at the office for the back-to-back Super Bowl champions.
Exclusive to @outkick: Patrick Mahomes’ mom, Randi Mahomes @tootgail, with a special message for America on Election Eve: “Make America great again, let’s do it!” pic.twitter.com/9JkGjZicjw
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) November 5, 2024
Early in the fourth quarter, Kansas City held its breath when Mahomes injured his left ankle after planting it awkwardly in the ground.
The Chiefs were trailing 17-10 when their star man evaded pressure in the pocket and darted forward before stopping to flip the ball to Samaje Perine in the end zone.
Yet as he slowed down to pick out Perine, Mahomes was soon left in pain when his left leg appeared to buckle.
As the hosts celebrated scoring a touchdown and drawing level, the quarterback had to be helped off the field by team staff in worrying scenes.
The sight of Mahomes hobbling onto the sidelines was nightmare stuff for the Chiefs , though he was fortunately able to quickly return to the field and play through the pain barrier without missing an offensive snap.
And that proved unfortunate for Tampa Bay.
With just over four minutes remaining, Mahomes again proved exactly how vital he is to this team with his third touchdown pass of the night and second to DeAndre Hopkins.
The link-up with Hopkins edged the Chiefs 24-17 ahead in the dying minutes and left the Bucs staring a third straight defeat in the face, only for Baker Mayfield to force overtime after picking out Ryan Miller for a pivotal touchdown inside the final minute and setting up a game-tying conversion.
Mayfield, though, then lost the coin toss to Mahomes and his dejected reaction told you everything you need to know. The Bucs faced an almighty battle to get the ball back.
Kareem AJ Hunt scored the winning touchdown for the Chiefs on their first overtime drive
And in their first overtime drive, Mayfield’s fears proved justified when Hunt scored the game-winning touchdown for Kansas City.
It proved another night to savor for the Chiefs, but the Bucs will rue not going for a two-point score after Miller’s last-gasp touchdown.
Kansas City is now 8-0 for the season, ensuring they very much remain the team to beat in the NFL.
After their latest victory, Mahomes was asked about the moment he gave Chiefs fans a huge fright at the start of the fourth quarter.
‘I rolled my ankle,’ he revealed. ‘I rolled it last week and when you roll it again it never feels good.’
Head coach Andy Reid said after the game that he told Mahomes he was going to take him out of the game, only to joke that his key man ‘wanted to fight me’.
‘He might have the loosest Ankles in America,’ Reid added.
Travis Kelce, who fumbled the ball with girlfriend Taylor Swift watching on from the stands, gushed over the ‘culture’ at Arrowhead after Mahomes inspired the Chiefs to yet another victory.Travis Kelce gushed over the ‘culture’ at Arrowhead after the team’s latest triumph on Monday
‘Pat is playing out of his mind right now, Reid is dialing things up,’ Kelce said. ‘I almost handed it away a few times, my guys were right there with me.
‘Like I said it’s a culture, everybody just believes we are going to get it done. When Arrowhead is rocking like it was tonight it is hard to lose.
Kelce’s girlfriend Swift, meanwhile, went public with her backing of the Democrats and even mocked Vance’s remarks about the United States being run by ‘childless cat ladies’.
But the Chiefs were a unifying force for Swift and Mahomes, who is also pregnant with her third child.
The pop megastar attended Monday’s game instead of Kamala Harris’ last election rally
Swift arrived at Arrowhead on Monday night wearing a black, red and gold leather Chiefs jacket to show her support for Kelce and Co.
Many had speculated about her attending Harris’ final election rally in Pennsylvania, yet the songstress instead chose to go and cheer on her man.
Patrick’s mom Randi, meanwhile, revealed she is voting for Trump in the election before Monday night’s game.
In a video for Outkick, filmed in a suite at Arrowhead Stadium wearing a MAGA cap, she said: ‘Make America great again, let’s do it!’
Chiefs quarterback Patrick has not said who he is voting for and says he will never reveal his choice publicly despite Brittany making no secret of her support for Trump.
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