The referee conversation has become a part and parcel of the experience during Kansas City Chiefs games. This time around, as they faced off against the Detroit Lions in a Week 6 primetime clash on Sunday Night Football, it didn’t take more than one possession for controversy to reign supreme once again.
It was the first script of the game from the Lions, who marched down the field and got to the goal line with an opportunity to make magic happen. As they went in for the touchdown off a trick play, the entire sequence was unfortunately called back by the referees due to a delay of the game. For the NFL fan base, though, that was reason enough to go after the officials in the game.
Referees Make Presence Felt on Opening Drive In Lions vs. Chiefs
With two of the best offenses in the league over the last couple of weeks going at it, fans would have been hoping for an explosive outing right from the outset. They got their wishes worth on the opening drive from Detroit, who got to the 1-yard line with relative ease.
As they tried to run a trick play to give Jared Goff the opportunity to record a receiving touchdown, the idea was successful, and the former Los Angeles Rams star got into the end zone. But the Lions’ celebration turned to sorrow in a heartbeat.
Doesn’t count but was still cool pic.twitter.com/YvM7fjH3w4
— St. Brown Podcast (@StBrownPodcast) October 13, 2025
The play was called back, with the referee assessing an illegal motion on Detroit, resulting in a five-yard penalty, which was then followed by another penalty for delay of game. As a result, Detroit settled for a field goal to kick things off. The extra time it took to set up the trick play ultimately ended up being their downfall.
The call, even though correct, did not go over well with the NFL fan base. Needing an excuse to blame the Chiefs for something or other, the chatter on social media quickly began. As one fan wrote, “REFS IN CHIEFS POCKETS AGAIN,” another agreed, “Lmao KC refs still cheating, I see.”
REFS IN CHIEFS POCKETS AGAIN
— Bralen Dennis (@bralendennis3) October 13, 2025
Despite the penalty being correctly assessed on the Lions, some weren’t willing to accept the call, claiming, “Refs did the Lions dirty lmao wow,” as another fan added, “refs hate the Lions confirmed.”
Refs did the Lions dirty lmao wow
— Pauly with a Y (@PaulyBlackk) October 13, 2025
Some fans just needed a reason to complain, and they went after established notions about the sport, like, “The fact that the refs can get together that late after the fact and then throw a flag is ridiculous.”
The fact that the refs can get together that late after the fact and then throw a flag is ridiculous.
— Tom Blazer (@TBlazer5AS1) October 13, 2025
“Refs always gonna show up for the Chiefs lmao,” was another comment in a similar vein.
The fans are convinced that the conspiracy in favor of Kansas City was fully in the works, despite the team being 2-3 and the call clearly being the right one.
Gooddell supporting his DEI QB once again
“The call, even though correct, did not go over well with the NFL fan base. Needing an excuse to blame the Chiefs for something or other, the chatter on social media quickly began.”
Looks like the refs aren’t the only ones that are biased.
You guys need to know what your talking about before writing nonsense the penalty that was called minutes after the td was announced was for illegal formation claiming goff needed to set his feet before the ball was snapped which was the wrong call because he never put his hands under center. The delay of game came on the next play after which is why they settled for a field goal.
Everything in this article is correct. Chiefs are cheating yet again by paying off the refs and the NFL is helping ensure that their cash cow Chiefs go to the Super Bowl again.