The Kansas City Chiefs' recent slide has brought out plenty of critics, but none more pointed than former Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons. After watching the Chiefs blow a late lead and fall to the Broncos on Sunday, Simmons took to social media and interviews to fire off a scathing take: the Chiefs have been cheating for years.
In a game that had massive AFC West implications, Kansas City had a chance to win in the final seconds, but a false start penalty on tackle Jaylon Moore wiped out what would have been a game-winning touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes. The very next play, the Broncos defense stuffed the run to secure the win and take sole possession of first place in the division.
Chiefs fans were quick to cry foul, insisting the flag was bogus and that the refs were out to get them. Simmons, however, saw it as long-overdue justice. "I got beef with Chiefs fans," Simmons said. "I see everyone on social media saying, 'That wasn’t a false start. They hate us.' … Y’all been cheating the whole time y’all had Patrick Mahomes! Refs been cheating for y’all. It was a false start. Y’all lost, and y’all lost at the 1-yard line."
Simmons' comments echo a growing frustration among some fans and analysts who believe the Chiefs have benefited from favorable officiating during their dynasty run. While there's no evidence of systematic cheating, the perception persists, especially after a controversial call cost them a game.
Interestingly, not everyone in the Chiefs' locker room is defending the play. Tight end Travis Kelce, on his "New Heights" podcast, admitted that Moore's penalty was legitimate. "At the end of the day, we still had another play," Kelce said. "I’ll take my guy Pat Mahomes on the six-yard line with the game on the line; I’ll take that any day of the week. So we gotta execute at the end even more. We can’t let the penalty absolutely deflate us and not let us execute at the end of the game."
Head coach Andy Reid, meanwhile, claimed he didn't see the infraction. "I didn’t see it," Reid told reporters. "That’s one man’s opinion. I saw him move his head, but I didn’t see a false start."
The loss marked the Chiefs' second straight defeat, and they now head into Week 9 with a two-game losing streak. They'll face the New York Jets, a team that has struggled this season but could pose a threat if the Chiefs don't fix their issues.
For Simmons, the win was personal. He spent eight seasons in Denver and knows the rivalry well. His comments have sparked a firestorm on social media, with many agreeing that the Chiefs have gotten away with too much over the years. Others, though, point out that the Chiefs have also been on the wrong end of calls, and that blaming referees is a weak excuse.
Regardless of where you stand, one thing is clear: the Chiefs are in a rough patch, and Simmons isn't about to let them forget it. As the season progresses, this story could add fuel to an already heated AFC West race.
For more on the ongoing officiating debates, check out Cignetti's criticism of the SEC and Finebaum's take on the CFP committee.
