Chiefs-Bengals pass interference: Late-game penalty bails out Kansas City, draws ire of Cincinnati fans

Call it luck, call it skill — maybe you can call it a conspiracy. No matter how you slice it, the Chiefs survived another dogfight, emerging worthy victors after colliding with Joe Burrow and a formidable Bengals squad in, 26-23 in Week 2 .

Kansas City (2-0) didn't look at its best for much of the contest. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes fired two passes into Bengals grasps, one of which was accentuated with an elegant one-handed INT from Cincinnati showman Cam Taylor-Britt.

The Bengals (0-2) appeared on the cusp of a momentous victory at Arrowhead Stadium, particularly after the Chiefs were docked 10 yards for an illegal hands-to-the-face penalty, setting up a daunting fourth-and-16 at their own 35-yard line.

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Despite the precarious nature of its field position, Kansas City came through the mire unscathed. The biggest reason why? A defensive pass interference call. Here's what you need to know.

Chiefs-Bengals pass-interference

Mahomes dropped back, scrambled, and fired a dart toward Raushee Rice, and hoped for the best. The ball spurned his outstretched grasp and dwindled harmlessly towards the turf. Cincinnati appeared to have clinched the victory.

Then, tragedy struck. Out came the referee's rancid hanky, all bright and jaundiced. The line judge had ruled that Rice had been impeded in his attempt to corral Mahomes' effort. A defensive pass interference was called at the spot of the foul — the Bengals' 36-yard line.

Three plays later and it was Kansas City frolicking across the field, beneficiaries of a call that had Cincy fans the world over feeling the blues.

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Replays seemed to vindicate the refs' judgment. Rice's marker, Daijahn Anthony, appeared to run through Rice's back as the ball approached him, stymying his ability to go for the ball.

"It's one of those plays where we may benefit from something like that at some point this season," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said postgame. "They're calling it like they see it. I think they called a very fair game and they saw that as a penalty. Our defense still did a great job not giving them any yards after that."

"They got a good kicker, and he made it. That's really what the game comes down to."

That didn't make the loss any easier to swallow for those of a Bengals disposition, however. Some tossed the typical accusations of collusion between the league, the Chiefs, and Taylor Swift, who watched along in the stands to support her longtime lover, Travis Kelce.

Were they right? Probably not. Can they be convinced otherwise? Highly unlikely.