Jets React to Late-Game Officiating in Loss to Chiefs

Saleh, Gardner, Carter and Johnson all comment on penalty calls from game-ending drive

The offensive holding that wasn't called and the defensive holding that was.

The Kansas City Chiefs controlled possession for the final 7:24, escaping Sunday Night Football with a 23-20 victory over the New York Jets. The Chiefs' time-killing, victory-clinching drive featured two massive third-down conversions that were both aided by officials' judgement calls.

After Zach Wilson fumbled a shotgun snap midway through the fourth quarter at midfield, the Jets' offense never touched the ball again.

Clinging to a three-point lead, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs survived a 3rd-and-23 situation followed by a 3rd-and-20. There was a non-call that upset the Jets on the first conversion. Then, a questionable defensive holding penalty allowed Kansas City to move the chains again.

"I have a lot of thoughts on it, but I’m going to stay quiet," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh when asked about multiple perceived missed calls by the officiating crew.

First, Mahomes had a massive amount of time to improvise after taking the third-down snap with 23 yards to go to the first down marker. He eventually found an open lane and took off upfield for a 25-yard rush. There was a penalty flag on the play, but not for the reason the Jets had hoped.

The official called Jets' linebacker CJ Mosley for illegal contact on a receiver, but it appeared that Chiefs' left tackle Donovan Smith also committed an infraction back at the line of scrimmage.

Trying to prevent edge rusher Jermaine Johnson from reaching Mahomes, Smith had a strong grasp on Johnson for a couple seconds but no flag was thrown. Instead of offsetting penalties and a replay of third down, the Chiefs recorded a first down.

"You have to be a thumb pointer and ask yourself what you could have done better," said Johnson, stopping short of fully blaming the officiating. "I can’t put myself in a position to get held."

Four snaps later, another penalty call went against the Jets with the Chiefs trying to convert a 3rd-and-20 with 4:29 remaining. Mahomes air-mailed a pass intended for slot receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jets' cornerback Michael Carter II intercepted it. The takeaway was nullified, however, as cornerback Sauce Gardner was flagged for grabbing Valdes-Scantling during the route.

"The receiver ran into me, there was a collision, same thing that was happening all game, they ain't throw no flags," said Gardner.

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The terribly-timed penalty sent Saleh into a rage on the sidelines, but the third-year head coach refused to critically address the official's decision during his postgame press conference.

"I’m not going to comment on that," said a visibly dismayed Saleh.

Carter, who lost out on an interception because of the penalty call, posted a simple postgame message on the social media site formerly known as Twitter.

"That was not holding…," said the slot cornerback in an X post. 

Carter was a bit more diplomatic while speaking to reporters about the alleged violation. 

"Yeah, I saw it. It is what it is. I don’t think it was that egregious," said Carter.

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