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Adam Schefter explains NFL officiating controversies after Chiefs win, possible use of replay assist for first down plays

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp01/27/25
Adam Schefter
Kirby Lee | USA TODAY Sports

A highly controversial spot during Sunday’s AFC Championship Game between the Bills and the Chiefs drew immediate scrutiny… and accusations that the NFL was calling games in favor of Kansas City.

The outcry was deafening, with Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen ruled short of the first down after video replays appeared to show Allen crossing the plane where the first down marker would have been.

“You’ve got two officials from opposite ends trying to make a ruling,” ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter said Monday on The Pat McAfee Show. “They obviously see it differently because one of them marked it as a first down, one of them didn’t.”

The play was ruled short in the end, and Kansas City would go on to score on the ensuing possession. The Chiefs ultimately won 32-29, advancing to the Super Bowl for the third straight season.

Many wondered why the call had to come down to two officials spotting the ball from opposite ends of the field.

“Again, we’re living in 2025. There is so much technology to do so many different things and we can’t figure out exactly where the football should be spotted,” Schefter said. “It’s wild that that’s the day and age that we’re living in considering all the technology.”

The NFL has experimented with ways to do things differently in the past.

“That’s what I thought this summer was about, the chip in the ball, the electronic spotting system, however they did it,” Schefter said. “And I’ve got to hear more about whatever came of that because you don’t want to have plays decided like that where there’s a question at all.”

As for a solution, Schefter had reported before conference championship weekend that the NFL replay assist is expected to expand this offseason into plays that could include the quarterback slide.

It may also be expanded to include plays like Allen’s lunging first-down attempt.

In any case, the narrative that the Chiefs are benefiting from some favorable refereeing remains strong. Schefter poured some fuel on that fire himself Sunday when he tweeted about some discrepancies in the types and number of calls benefiting Kansas City.

Schefter reported that in the Chiefs’ eight-game playoff winning streak, the Chiefs have not been penalized for roughing the passer, while their opponents have been penalized six times for it. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have been tagged for only one unnecessary roughness call, while their opponents have been hit with four of them.

“I would just say this again, the facts are the facts,” Schefter said. “I presented facts. There was zero — let me be clear about that — zero intent behind that. I’m a little surprised that people are so offended with factual information. There was zero agenda. Zero agenda. It was numbers, some stats in conjunction with a story that the NFL is considering expanding replay assist to include plays that include quarterback slides. That’s it. Those are the numbers. That’s it. No agenda.”

Schefter himself seemed impressed by the Chiefs.

“Listen, honestly, what the Chiefs are doing is incredible,” he said. “Who doesn’t like watching somebody do something that has never been done in the NFL ever?

“Again, I’m not in that camp (spouting the narrative). I’m just telling you when that information comes out, the news is that the NFL’s going to be expanding replay assist. They’re probably going to include the quarterback slide. And here are some numbers. Sorry that offended people. There was zero, there was zero intent. I just want to be clear about that.”