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Was Kadarius Toney lined up offsides on the Kansas City Chiefs’ would-be go ahead touchdown against the Buffalo Bills?
Yes, of course.
Could the referees have alerted him to the mishap? Maybe.
But as NFL fans are remembering on Monday, even that doesn’t guarantee that a flag wouldn’t have been thrown.
Fans Compare Kadarius Toney Mishap To Terry McLaurin Flag In 2022
Following the game, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ripped into the offsides call.
“For a flag to change the outcome of the game, in that moment, I’ve played seven years and never offensive offsides called…they warn you,” Mahomes said. “There was no warning throughout the entire game and you wait until a minute left in the game to make a call like that, it’s tough man.”
So did Kansas City head coach Andy Reid.
“It was a heck of a football game down to the end. Very disappointed that it ended the way it did,” Reid said of the play. “I never use any of this as excuses, but normally I get a warning before something like that happens in a big game. A bit embarrassing for the National Football League for that to take place.”
The “warning” that Mahomes and Reid referred to is typically given by the line judge or head referee. Wide receivers often check their alignment with the official who will then tell them whether or not they are lined up legally.
Toney did not appear to do so. Though some reports from inside the stadium claim otherwise.
But even if he had asked the official, that doesn’t guarantee that a flag would not be thrown. Just ask Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
Seems relevant today. I hated this call because I believe McLaurin asked if he was good, was told he was good & then STILL got an offsides penalty. As far as I’ve seen Toney did not ask for confirmation that he was good. But still. Point is-rightly or wrongly – this gets called. https://t.co/RpZJ6wVDuW
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) December 11, 2023
In a game against the New York Giants in 2022, McLaurin lined up and appeared to ask the official if he was lined up legally. The official appears to confirm that he was.
Commanders running back Brian Robinson scored on the play. But the official flagged Washington, specifically McLaurin, for an illegal formation.
New York went on to keep the Commanders out of the end zone and make the playoffs by one game ahead of Washington.
While the two situations aren’t exactly the same, it goes to show that the responsibility is on the player.
In this case, Toney appears to have just made a major, major mental mistake that ultimately cost his team the game.