Refs make bad intentional grounding call on Patrick Mahomes, don’t let Andy Reid challenge

The Kansas City Chiefs are criticized for getting the benefit of referees’ call. Buffalo is the land of tables turning.

Kansas City was the victim of a bad call that referees determined Andy Reid could not challenge in the third quarter in Buffalo on Sunday.  On second-and-6 from the Chiefs’ 44-yard line, Mahomes was flagged for intentional grounding.

Kansas City head coach Andy Reid threw his challenge flag because defensive end Michael Hoecht tipped the pass.

After the referees congregated they determined it was an unreviewable play. That made the next play a third-and-16 and Mahomes was sacked by defensive ends Hoecht and Greg Rousseau for a 9-yard loss.

The Chiefs lost 19 yards between the grounding call and sack and faced fourth-and-25.

Gene Steratore has never seen something like this in his career:

Intentional grounding was called on Patrick Mahomes here, but the referees failed to see that the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Andy Reid attempted to challenge the ruling on the field, only to be told… pic.twitter.com/NWeWynyoRG

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 2, 2025