Sunday was supposed to be the early get-right game for the notoriously slow-starting Cincinnati Bengals. It was a familiar matchup, to put it kindly.
Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes met again as the Bengals took on the Kansas City Chiefs in what ended up being another instant classic between these two teams. Prior to Sunday's Week 2 matchup, Burrow was 3-1 against Mahomes.
In a second half that went back and forth, providing fans with plenty of dramatic moments, the Bengals found themselves in position to pull off a win against the Super Bowl champs. Late in the game, Mahomes and the Chiefs faced a fourth down.
If Kansas City failed to convert, the Bengals would all but have been guaranteed a win. Mahomes dropped back to pass and flung the ball down the field.
Rookie seventh-round pick Daijahn Anthony appeared to have helped break up the pass intended for receiver Rashee Rice, but after the ball hit the ground, one referee called defensive pass interference.
Was it the right call? That's debatable. In the end, there was contact made. The better question might have been, why was a seventh-round rookie on the field in that situation? Nothing against Anthony, but we're talking about a third string safety.
Regardless, it's all over now.
From there, the Chiefs were able to line up for a 51-yard field goal attempt off the foot of Harrison Butker.
The attempt was good. The Chiefs won. Cincinnati and their fan base felt as though the refs bailed Mahomes and the Chiefs out yet again. It was safe to say, not everyone felt the call was the right one.
Bengals fans and NFL fans alike took to social media to call out the refs after their Week 2 loss
Raise your hand if the Chiefs beat your team on a bs penalty when they were about to lose ππ½ββοΈ
β Toy_1da (@toybox) September 15, 2024
...raises hand?
The NFL cannot let the Chiefs lose, bro. That's SOME BS
β TRASHPACK (@TrashPackMedia) September 15, 2024
NFL is rigged . Chiefs ?? Bs call
β no one (@Totalpackage56) September 15, 2024
Stop me if you've heard this before: the Chiefs got bailed out by a ticky-tack defensive penalty at a crucial moment that decides the game. #CINvsKC
β Christopher Hughes (@Christo14134287) September 15, 2024
Yeah, we've heard this before.
Give every game to the Chiefs rest of season. Refs in their favor every game. Why play the game if we know results beforehand?
β T.J. Houshmandzadeh (@housh84) September 15, 2024
Hey, at least it wasn't just fans who thought the call was a joke. Even former Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh took to social media to express his displeasure.
Chiefs bout to get bailed out by refs for the 279,567th time
β πΏπππππ πΏππππ π€ (@PistolPeterOSU) September 15, 2024
Death, taxes, and the chiefs being bailed out by flags whenever something goes wrong
β Nicky Flipppers (@nickyflips94) September 15, 2024
Chiefs ALWAYS getting bailed out.
β Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) September 15, 2024
Oh, what's that? Another former NFL player agreeing that it was a bogus call? Sure is.
More Bengals news:
Kansas City Chiefs fans never have to worry on 4th downs because theyβll always get magically bailed out.
β Who Dey (@AndreBengals) September 15, 2024
Must be nice to live stress free.
Are we sensing a theme here? "Bailed out" seems to be often-used ... and borderline-correct.
The Chiefs really are the new Patriots because you can bank theyβll always get great whistle and all of the lucky bounces
β EJ Stewart (@EJ_Stewart) September 15, 2024
chiefs so lucky the refs watching every single player on the bengals defense like a hawk for any potential flag
β Aaron Arceneaux (@Scoobenz) September 15, 2024
We have found the perfect explanation for how it feels to be a Bengals fan in the midst of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, folks. This is it.
Chiefs are so damn lucky
β Nathan Marzion (@nathanmarzion) September 15, 2024
The NFL cannot let the Chiefs lose, bro. That's SOME BS
β TRASHPACK (@TrashPackMedia) September 15, 2024
I wish you could bet on the odds of a penalty being called in the NFL.
β Andrew Weiss (@WeissHockeyTalk) September 15, 2024
Chiefs losing with 4th and long coming up? Iβd bet my life savings on them getting bailed out by a flag.
You get the idea. The Bengals lost in heartbreaking fashion and the Chiefs have an extra man on the field at all times.