Referee Explains Why Chiefs Weren’t Warned on Kadarius Toney’s Key Offsides Penalty

Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney’s critical offside penalty in Sunday’s thriller against the Bills has become one of the most controversial moments of the NFL season. The penalty negated of the best plays of the season after Travis Kelce made a miraculous lateral across the field to Toney for what appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute left in the game.

Afterward, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid were critical of officials for throwing the flag, and Reid was upset that Toney wasn’t warned he was in the neutral zone, calling it “embarrassing” for the NFL that Toney wasn’t warned.

However, referee Carl Cheffers explained in a pool report why Toney wasn’t warned beforehand. 

Pool report with NFL SVP Walt Anderson and referee Carl Cheffers, who said of the critical offsides penalty on #Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney: “(C)ertainly, no warning is required, especially if they are lined up so far offsides where they’re actually blocking our view of the ball.” pic.twitter.com/iKQPujy5R0

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 11, 2023

“Yes, ultimately, if they look for alignment advice, certainly we are going to give it to them. But ultimately, they are responsible for wherever they line up,” Cheffers said. “And, certainly, no warning is required, especially if they are lined up so far offsides where they’re actually blocking our view of the ball.

“So, we would give them some sort of warning if it was anywhere close, but this particular one is beyond warning,” Cheffers continued. 

In the replay, it’s clear Toney is egregiously offsides. After the touchdown was negated, the Bills hung on for a 20–17 victory. Kansas City fell to 8–5, while Buffalo improved to 7–6 to keep its playoff homes alive. 

Oh my God, Travis Kelce tossed it to Kadarius Toney, who goes in for the go-ahead touchdown, BUT Toney was offsides on the play.pic.twitter.com/BrdrF6SmBH

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 11, 2023

The overhead camera angle of the Kadarius Toney offsides play, via @jjones9. Doesn’t get clearer than this… https://t.co/tP4TAI8ojd pic.twitter.com/hZeXcxzDb5

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 11, 2023