Brandon Beane was brutally honest regarding the missed calls in the AFC Championship game.
During a media session on Thursday, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane firmly stood by his viewpoint that crucial officiating calls negatively impacted his team during their AFC Championship defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs. Beane expressed his disappointment over a controversial fourth-down spot that resulted in a turnover, along with a debatable replay review that confirmed a Chiefs catch close to the goal line.
In a pivotal fourth-and-inches situation early in the fourth quarter, Bills quarterback Josh Allen seemed to have reached the first-down marker, but officials deemed him short. Despite undergoing a review, the original call was upheld, handing the ball to the Chiefs at a critical juncture.
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“I believe he made it,” Beane stated. “I still believe he made it. I felt that way at the time, and my opinion hasn’t shifted since then.”
With Buffalo leading 22-21 at that moment, their momentum stalled following the turnover. The Chiefs seized the opportunity, advancing down the field to secure the lead for good. Beane also commented on a different contentious play from the first half, where Kansas City wide receiver Xavier Worthy was credited with a catch close to the goal line, even though it looked like the ball may have touched the ground.
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Bills GM stand firm in his belief that Josh Allen got the first down, among other missed calls
“I believed our challenge was valid,” Beane said. “I’m not entirely convinced that either player had possession on the Bishop/Worthy play. When the ball hits the ground, you need to have possession… If the ball does touch the ground, then someone must have clearly established possession.” While Beane recognized that the Bills had chances to capitalize, the narrow calls left the team feeling frustrated.
“As you go further in the playoffs, the pain only increases,” he admitted. Buffalo’s loss was their fourth playoff defeat against the Chiefs in the last five seasons, reinforcing Kansas City’s dominance in the AFC. For Allen, the disappointment was evident.
“It’s not enjoyable,” Allen remarked after the game. “To be the champions, you’ve got to beat the champions. And we didn’t do that tonight.”
Despite yet another heartbreaking conclusion, the Bills are eager to regroup and eventually overcome the Chiefs. Beane and his team will now shift their attention to enhancing the roster and figuring out how to finally surpass this postseason hurdle. Meanwhile, Kansas City continues their quest for an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title. For Buffalo, the offseason starts with lingering frustration but also a strong motivation for the future.
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