One of the most talked-about narratives of the NFL season revolved around the Kansas City Chiefs and the perception that they received favorable officiating from the league. Throughout the season, debates raged over whether the Chiefs were the beneficiaries of crucial calls in high-stakes moments.
However, after a lopsided Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins turned the tables. He questioned where the outrage was when close calls favored the Eagles instead.
Hopkins Calls Out "Touchy Calls" in Eagles' Victory
Speaking to the media after the 40-22 defeat, Hopkins briefly touched on the subject of officiating, expressing frustration over what he perceived as questionable calls that worked against the Chiefs.
"It’s my first year being with the Chiefs, and I saw a lot of things in the media about the refs, but what are you all going to say now about the refs and us?" Hopkins asked. "There was a lot of touchy calls. Are you going to report that? Are you going to talk about the refs now?"
Hopkins did not cite specific plays or moments, nor was he directly involved in any controversial calls. However, there were a couple of personal fouls called against the Chiefs that drew scrutiny.
Personal Fouls Aid Eagles' Momentum
One notable call occurred during Philadelphia’s first touchdown drive in the first quarter. On a third-and-5 play, quarterback Jalen Hurts targeted tight end Dallas Goedert with a pass that sailed high. As Goedert and Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie made contact mid-air after the ball deflected off Goedert’s hands, McDuffie’s grazing contact with Goedert’s helmet led to an unnecessary roughness penalty.
What would have been an incomplete pass at Kansas City’s 42-yard line instead resulted in a 15-yard penalty, giving the Eagles a first down at the 27. Two plays later, they scored their opening touchdown, taking a 7-0 lead.
Later, in the second quarter, another personal foul penalty aided Philadelphia. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton made contact with Eagles running back Saquon Barkley after an incomplete pass. Though the contact was not excessive, Bolton’s shove sent Barkley to the turf, leading to a penalty that turned a third-and-26 into a first down. This time, the Eagles didn’t convert the call into points, ultimately punting four plays later.
Were the Calls Game-Changers?
Controversial officiating was not entirely one-sided. The Chiefs benefited from a debatable offensive pass interference call against Philadelphia on the Eagles' first possession, negating what would have been a first down in the red zone and forcing a punt.
However, the key distinction between Sunday night’s officiating and the season-long criticism of Chiefs-favorable calls is the impact on the game’s outcome. While the Eagles did capitalize on some penalties, they had already established a dominant 24-0 halftime lead, making it difficult to argue that officiating played a decisive role.
Throughout the regular season, many of the officiating controversies involving the Chiefs occurred in high-stakes, late-game moments that directly influenced wins. In contrast, during Super Bowl LIX, the Eagles were in control from start to finish, rendering the disputed calls less consequential to the final result.