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Ryan Clark makes referee, Chiefs joke in defense of Russell Wilson

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•about 11 hours•

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ryan clark cowboys
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

In the NFL Pro Bowl Games Skills Showdown, Russell Wilson tried to keep raising his score in the “Passing The Test” game. The buzzer sounded, but he still managed to hit the 5 – and ESPN analyst Ryan Clark cracked a joke about whether Wilson could get some help.

Clark referenced the Kansas City Chiefs and the jokes about the referees when asking if Willson’s last attempt would count. As they made a run to Super Bowl LIX, fans continue to ask whether the referees helped the Chiefs get to New Orleans for the matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Wilson clearly got his final throw off after the buzzer sounded. That’s why Clark wondered if he’d get the same boost fans think the Chiefs receive. However, despite Peyton Manning’s pleas, the throw did not count.

“Is it possible to get some of that loving that everybody thinks the Kansas City Chiefs get?” Clark said while reacting to the replay of Wilson’s final attempt.

Throughout the playoffs, people questioned the officiating in Chiefs game. That includes Houston Texans standout Will Anderson and head coach DeMeco Ryans after the AFC Divisional Round, and the criticism grew louder after the AFC Championship.

“We knew it was going to be us against the refs going into in this game. … We’ve got to go out there and we’ve got to do what’s better,” Anderson said. “In some instances, we didn’t do that. In some instances, we did.

“We’ve just to keep going, man. Next offseason, get the guys together, man. Everybody just coming together and just keep building that team chemistry and get past this hump.”

Officiating came into question during AFC Championship

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen tried a quarterback sneak for a first down, but the referees deemed him short. After a review, the call on the field stood, although the spot was still in question. That play then set up a Chiefs touchdown which proved to be the difference in the 29-22 victory.

Fans were quick to notice the two different calls from the officials. ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted that during his Monday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, saying the referees came in from different sides of the field and didn’t see it the same way.

During the preseason, the NFL tested a new replay system which would allow technology to help with the spot of the ball. Schefter pointed to that procedure, which would’ve helped in a situation such as the one during Sunday’s game.

“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.”