Referee from Chiefs-Falcons game forced to release statement explaining controversial call after backlash

A REFEREE has shared the reasoning for a missed penalty call toward the end of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 22-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3.

The sequence came during the fourth quarter of the Sunday Night Football NFL primetime game for all eyes to see.

NBC

NBC

With a little under four-and-a-half minutes left in the game, the Falcons offense faced a 3rd-and-5 on the Chiefs’ six-yard line.

The play saw Kirk Cousins throw a ball to tight end Kyle Pitts but he couldn’t make the catch .

However, Kansas City safety Bryan Cook was making contact with him throughout the play.

Cook was even bear-hugging Pitts before the ball got to the vicinity of the tight end.

The Chiefs should’ve gotten flagged for pass interference, but there was no penalty flag thrown on the play.

After the game, referee Tra Bale opened up on the reason for the official not making the penalty call.

“That is a real-time call that officials have to make a judgment on,” Blake explained in the pool report.

“From the angle that they had at the time, they did not feel that there was a foul committed.”

Pass interference can’t be reviewable.

As a result, officials have to make a quick decision on the spot when it comes to calling a penalty or not.

In this case, the refs believed that the play didn’t warrant a flag.

“That’s a real-time judgment call for us,” Blake said. “We do the best we can to make that decision.”

If the officials called a penalty on the Chiefs, the ball would’ve been given a first down on the one-yard line.

Still, there was close to four minutes left in the game.

Reuters

If the Falcons scored a touchdown, they would’ve been up 23-22 with pending the extra point.

Atlanta would’ve likely attempted the two-point conversion to go up 25-22.

The Chiefs would’ve had a chance to take the lead or possibly tie up the game if the Falcons had made the conversion – especially with superstar Patrick Mahomes leading the offense.

Still, Kansas City received plenty of criticism over benefiting from the non-penalty call.

After the contest, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris didn’t want to comment on the topic.

The 3-0 Chiefs will play the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4.

Atlanta, meanwhile, will take on the division rival New Orleans Saints next Sunday.