Football fans are teeing off on the NFL refs following several questionable game-changing calls in the Pittsburgh Steelers-Kansas City Chiefs Christmas Day game.
The Chiefs and Steelers were squaring off at Acrisure Stadium in the first of two Christmas Day games. But once again, a highly-anticipated football game has been overshadowed by the NFL refs making head-scratching calls.
For starters, Jaylen Warren’s rushing touchdown to put the Steelers on the board was called back by a questionable holding penalty on Darnell Washington. On the next play, Russell Wilson was picked off by Justin Reid:
WOW: Steelers score a much-needed touchdown and then the refs call a holding penalty on Pittsburgh.
6-points come off the board.
A killer for Pittsburgh. BECAUSE KANSAS CITY PICKS THEM OFF THE NEXT PLAY.
Every flag in this game has been on Pit.
BRUTAL pic.twitter.com/rTNmve9Fy1
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 25, 2024
Later on in the second quarter, the NFL refs blew the whistle early after George Pickens made a catch near midfield. If they didn’t blow it prematurely, Pickens could have had an even bigger run:
🚨🚨REFS COST THE STEELERS🚨🚨
REFS BLOW THE PLAY DEAD, DESPITE #STEELERS WR GEORGE PICKENS LEGS STILL MOVING.
Pickens could’ve run that in for a touchdown. #Chiefs now get the ball back..
AWFUL. AWFUL CALL. Pittsburgh is livid.
🤯🤯🤯
pic.twitter.com/LnGTxKO6yo— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 25, 2024
As you would expect, fans accused the NFL refs of “rigging” this game in favor of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs:
“This is getting to be such a terrible product when the Chiefs play,” a fan wrote.
“Told you, Taylor Swift is the commissioner!!,” another joked.
“No shocker,” said a fan.
“All NFL Christmas team,” a fan wrote with images of NFL refs together.
🚨🚨REFS COST THE STEELERS🚨🚨
REFS BLOW THE PLAY DEAD, DESPITE #STEELERS WR GEORGE PICKENS LEGS STILL MOVING.
Pickens could’ve run that in for a touchdown. #Chiefs now get the ball back..
AWFUL. AWFUL CALL. Pittsburgh is livid.
🤯🤯🤯
pic.twitter.com/LnGTxKO6yo— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 25, 2024
All NFL Christmas team: pic.twitter.com/4qr0tVMC10
— Barkley Super Bowl LIX MVP (@BarkleysBurner_) December 25, 2024
“Typical Chiefs game… TD by the opposite team? Let’s throw a flag to negate the play,” a fan said.
“Unsportsmanlike on KC wasn’t a flag?,” asked a user.
“Nothing changes until we stop watching, which we won’t,” claimed another.
“If anyone is surprised, I feel sorry for you,” a fan wrote.
NFL Refs Can’t Shake Off Chiefs Favoritism Accusations
There have certainly been plenty of questionable officiating decisions that have favored the Chiefs this season, and today’s game against the Steelers hasn’t been any different. The fact most of Kansas City’s wins have come in one-score games has only added to frustration for anti-KC fans who believe the refs really are favoring Mahomes and company.
