The Chiefs are allowed to replay one of their third tries in the Championship Game against the Bengals – incomprehensibly to many. The referee in charge later explains the reason.

This situation had it all. In the AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals, a moment in the middle of the last quarter caused irritation.

On a third attempt by the Chiefs, with nine yards to go, it initially looked as if the referees would give the hosts a second chance.

The snap had been taken, a new first down not scored. The fans assumed that a Chiefs punt would follow. Then, however, came the turnaround. Patrick Mahomes’s offence was allowed to line up again for a third try – and even scored a new first try due to a holding penalty against Bengals cornerback Eli Apple.

The Bengals squad was visibly confused. And angry.

Confusion over Chiefs’ third try

But what had happened? Why was the down being replayed?

The referee crew had spotted a problem with the play clock before the first try was even taken, whereupon another official tried to stop the play before the snap was even played.

However, because it was so noisy at Arrowhead Stadium, the offence could not be stopped in time. The Chiefs’ failed conversion, however, was not a real play that should have counted.

Official Ron Torbert told US reporters, “On the previous play, there was an incomplete pass. We spotted the ball, then the linesman came on the field and spotted the ball again because the previous spot was incorrect.”

He continued, “We reset the play clock and it started running again. But it shouldn’t have been running because, yes, there was an incomplete pass on the previous play. The referee on the field noticed this and wanted to stop the game so we could fix the clock thing – but nobody heard him and the game continued. “

Referees followed protocol

Only after the play was actually invalid was the referee able to make himself heard, the situation was discussed, the play clock was set back to the correct time and the snap was played again.

When asked afterwards what the normal protocol would be if a play could not be stopped in time, the referee replied: “If we tried to stop the play but we couldn’t, then we would stop the play, go back and replay the down. “