‘Virtual Measurement Is a Joke’ — NFL Fans Slam League’s New Technology for Controversial Call in Favor of Chiefs

Every game involving the Kansas City Chiefs seems to turn into a refereeing controversy at some point or another.

In a primetime slot on Monday Night Football against the Washington Commanders, that situation was no different, as it didn’t even take a full half before fans took to social media to voice their complaints against what they felt was an incorrect ruling that victimized the visiting team.

Fans Sympathize With Commanders After First Down Controversy

A brutal first quarter from an offensive perspective saw both teams give up the ball with interceptions on their opening drives. For the Commanders, it was a deflected pass by Deebo Samuel that went up in the air and into the hands of Mike Danna.

Immediately afterwards, the Chiefs coughed it up, as Marshon Lattimore made an excellent play on a Patrick Mahomes throw down the left sideline. Trying to take advantage, Washington started moving the ball down the field.

The Commanders worked their way down to the 40-yard line before attempting a risky fourth-and-6 conversion. Veteran tight end Zach Ertz caught the ball and the play was correctly ruled a completion, but only for a gain of five yards.

Ertz was ruled down just short of the marker, meaning the Chiefs were set to receive the ball via a turnover on downs. Unfortunately, for most of the fans watching, it seemed clear that Washington had gotten it past the sticks.

One fan believed the problem lay with the new virtual technology that was introduced this season to improve accuracy on such calls. “Clear first down. This virtual s*it is just another way to rig a game. People will be convinced this is fool-proof.”

The skepticism was far from isolated. Instead, other fans also argued, “Are we supposed to believe a ‘virtual measurement’ when we weren’t even provided a single good camera angle to prove if that ball was short or not? Come on, man.”

For those who were convinced about a Chiefs “advantage” that they feel the NFL affords Kansas City, the vitriol was clear. “It really is remarkable how a select few teams get the majority of the calls every single game; that’s pretty clearly a first down. I bet the review will conclude ‘not enough evidence to overturn’”

It really is remarkable how a select few teams get the majority of the calls every single game, that’s pretty clearly a first down. I bet the review will conclude “not enough evidence to overturn”

— Unbiased Mets Fan (@TheMetsX) October 28, 2025

Others, too, held a similar notion, as they outright stated, “That’s pretty clearly a first down, but we know what happens in Kansas City during primetime.” Ultimately, though, the complaints came back to the new technological advancements the league was trying to make.

Some believed the addition was useless. “The virtual measurement is a joke when they are still spotting the ball by biased refs,” while others argued against the technology itself, “That AI spot is the biggest crock of s*it. All it does is show the distance to the first. Not where the actual ball was when he was down.”

The play that first brought the issue to light and caused the NFL to adopt the change, a Josh Allen run that was ruled short during the AFC Championship Game last season, was still fresh on people’s minds.

One fan immediately pointed to it as evidence that things hadn’t changed at all. “Refs did the shame shot last year to Josh Allen they cheat for the chiefs every year even ray charles could see Washington had the 1st down.”

Refs did the shame shot last year to Josh Allen they cheat for the chiefs every year even ray charles could see Washington had the 1st down

— Slim Shady (@SlimShady274) October 28, 2025

While the Chiefs committed a turnover following the controversial sequence, fans’ frustration about the Commanders seemingly being short-changed was understandable.