Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid spoke out after their win over the Buffalo Bills (Image: Getty)
Andy Reid admitted that his team were ‘lucky’ to beat the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, following a controversial call that went in favour of the NFL champions.
The Chiefs benefited from some dubious decisions from referee Clete Blakeman at critical moments in the contest, with some fans
Kansas City went on to close out the encounter 32-29 against the Bills, but there was some consternation about how they had sealed their progress to a third consecutive Super Bowl.
Reid, who will be aiming to win his fourth Super Bowl ring when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles on February 9, accepted that fortune played a major part in their victory.
“Literally a game of inches,” Reid said after Sunday’s victory in Kansas City. “We were lucky to be on that side of it, where we had the most inches.
“This came right down to an inch, literally. That’s what the stop was. It was back-and-forth. It was going to be back-and-forth.
“Whoever had the ball last was probably going to come out in the lead and [with] the win. But I’m proud of our guys battling.”
Reid’s response may not come as a surprise as the veteran coach, 66, is viewed as one of the NFL’s more diplomatic figures – even when discussing decisions that favour his team.
Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to victory with one touchdown and two rushing TDs (Image: Getty)
His comments were particularly notable after one incident involving Josh Allen drew huge criticism from fans and pundits alike.
With 13 minutes left on the clock, Allen and the Bills were leading 22-21 in the fourth quarter when they drove the ball to the Chiefs’ 41-yard line with a fourth-down play.
Allen only had a yard to gain to secure the first down and took the snap from his center Connor McGovern, appearing to get his body and the ball over the 40-yard line. However, a referee on the sideline claimed that Allen was short of the line and the play was reviewed.
Despite replays appearing to show the quarterback had reached the yellow line, the referees confirmed their ruling would stand as cheers emerged from fans inside Arrowhead Stadium.
The Buffalo Bills felt their quarterback Josh Allen made it over the yellow first-down line (Image: Getty)
However, Bills coach Sean McDermott disagreed with the on-field call and felt his star QB had got the crucial first down, which would’ve allowed his team to continue their attacking drive instead of turning the ball over to the Chiefs.
“I thought he had it,” McDermott said of Allen. “Just short of the line was actually the first down.
“What it looked like to me, when it was sitting next to me, was the first down. It looked like he got to it. That’s all I can say.”
Allen did not mention the incidents in his post-match interview, instead saying: “It’s not fun [to lose]. To be the champs, you’ve got to beat the champs and we didn’t do it tonight.”