CBS makes colossal blunder at most important moment of Chiefs-Bills game

CBS makes colossal blunder at most important moment of Chiefs-Bills game

For a few seconds Sunday night, Jim Nantz — and the CBS scorebug — gave the Bills some hope during the fourth quarter of their AFC championship clash against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Josh Allen’s final heave that went through the hands of a diving Dalton Kincaid had fallen incomplete.

The Bills’ chance to tie the game — and what ended up being their final offensive snap Sunday — had evaporated in an eventual 32-29 loss.

The CBS scorebug initially showed a flag after the Bills' final offensive snap on Jan. 27 against the Chiefs.
The CBS scorebug initially showed a flag after the Bills’ final offensive snap on Jan. 27 against the Chiefs. Screengrab via X/@awfulannouncing

But in the aftermath of the play, Nantz, the play-by-play broadcaster, said that there’d been a flag thrown, and the network added its yellow graphic to the scorebug.

“I didn’t see a flag thrown there,” analyst Tony Romo said.

“I’m told there’s a flag,” Nantz replied, before later adding “no flag” after Romo started dissecting the blitz package Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo sent toward Allen on that fourth down.

Moments later, as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense lined up to start the possession that ultimately ended the game, Nantz reiterated that there hadn’t been a flag picked up or even thrown in the first place.

“We had a report from the sideline that there had been a flag,” Nantz said, “but there was no flag. There was no penalty at all.”

Jim Nantz (l.) initially said that there'd been a flag on the Bills' final offensive snap on Jan. 26.
Jim Nantz (l.) initially said there had been a flag on the Bills’ final offensive snap on Jan. 26 but no flag was thrown. Getty Images

So instead, the temporary flag graphic served as a cruel tease for viewers watching the game, providing a bit of false hope that a potential defensive penalty could extend the Bills’ drive — allowing them to creep closer toward field goal range while trailing by three points in the final two minutes.

Instead, Kincaid was left to rue his drop postgame, Allen was left to rue a fourth consecutive loss to Mahomes in the postseason and the Bills were left to navigate the latest playoff heartbreak handed to them by Kansas City.

Allen finished with 237 pᴀssing yards and two touchdowns while James Cook added a pair of rushing touchdowns, but the Chiefs’ defense stopped the Bills in key spots — including the fourth down on the final drive, a controversial fourth-and-1 sneak earlier in the fourth quarter and a pair of two-point conversions — to keep their bid for a three-peat alive.

Kansas City will face the Eagles, who defeated the Commanders in the NFC Championship game Sunday, in Super Bowl 2025 on Feb. 9.

Related Posts

Retired New York Giants star reveals he decided to quit NFL midway through a 2023 game

Retired New York Giants star reveals he decided to quit NFL midway through a 2023 game

The question of when to retire is one that NFL players often debate to themselves. For one player, that answer came in the middle of a game….

NFL fans spot concerning detail in Aaron Rodgers’ Steelers team pH๏τo

NFL fans spot concerning detail in Aaron Rodgers’ Steelers team pH๏τo

Aaron Rodgers pulled on a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey for the first time this week – but fans were quick to spot one bizarre detail in his profile pH๏τo…

Ex-Minnesota Vikings player attacks ‘weak, emasculated’ Tim Walz after state senator slaughter

Ex-Minnesota Vikings player attacks ‘weak, emasculated’ Tim Walz after state senator slaughter

Former Minnesota Vikings player Jack Brewer has slammed Tim Walz for allowing the state to become ‘the capital of chaos’ with a manhunt underway for the alleged…

Travis Kelce reveals exactly how much weight he has lost after ditching Taylor Swift’s pop tarts

Travis Kelce reveals exactly how much weight he has lost after ditching Taylor Swift’s pop tarts

Travis Kelce is going to return to Kansas City Chiefs practice next week an incredible 25 pounds lighter for the upcoming 2025 season. The three-time Super Bowl…

NFL player compares his Achilles tear to ‘illegal’ deportations in bizarre remarks about LA protests

NFL player compares his Achilles tear to ‘illegal’ deportations in bizarre remarks about LA protests

Dolphins guard James Daniels brought up the ‘illegal’ mᴀss deportations occurring in the United States as he downplayed the Achilles injury he is recovering from. Daniels, who joined the…

Surprise contender emerges to be New Orleans Saints’ starting QB in 2025

Surprise contender emerges to be New Orleans Saints’ starting QB in 2025

The Saints’ quarterback situation is reportedly less straightforward than previously believed. Following the sudden retirement of Derek Carr, many ᴀssumed that Tyler Shough was the presumptive starter…