Ex-Chiefs Lineman Expertly Broke Down Why Bills’ Von Miller Wasn’t Offsides on Critical Play

Former Chiefs lineman Mitchell Schwartz explained why Von Miller was not offsides on a crucial play on Sunday.

Chiefs fans are mad about not one, but two potential offsides calls the day after their crushing loss to the Bills

The first such call was an obvious one: Kadarius Toney was lined up well offside, nullifying what would have been a dramatic touchdown in the final minute-and-a-half of the game. 

But Kansas City fans were also clamoring for a flag to be thrown two plays later. On third-and-15 from the K.C. 46, Patrick Mahomes’s pass attempt was batted down at the line by Ed Oliver as he was pressured. Chiefs fans were convinced that Buffalo should have been penalized for a neutral zone infraction on the play, but former Chiefs offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz posted a video on social media explaining why Von Miller should not have been flagged. 

Schwartz explained that the blue line of scrimmage on the television broadcast was not where the line of scrimmage actually was. Using the placement of the ball as the actual line of scrimmage, Miller was in a legal position and timed his rush perfectly with when Creed Humphrey snapped the ball. 

Sorry, Chiefs fans. The refs got both of those calls right. 


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Dan Gartland
DAN GARTLAND

Dan Gartland is the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, covering everything an educated sports fan needs to know. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).