Thursday Night Football's clash between the Chargers and Chiefs is one of the most anticipated games of the Week 2 slate. The first quarter was dominant for the Chargers as the team was able to completely shut down the Chiefs defense and jump out to a 10-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter.
It looked like the Chargers were going to continue their defensive dominance on the Chiefs' third drive of the game as well. Patrick Mahomes lobbed up a ball into no-mans land that was picked off by Nasir Adderley, giving the Chargers the ball with a 10-0 lead.
However, the interception was negated by a horrible call on the play. Bryce Callahan was called for illegal contact despite getting dragged down to the field by Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the play. Should it really have been illegal contact? I'll let you be the judge.
This interception by Nasir Adderley won't count due to a penalty on Bryce Callahan #ChiefsKingdom #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/WLOQBlf0U0
— Pro Football Culture (@proftblculture) September 16, 2022
Three plays later the Chiefs were faced with a third and four and Mahomes was able to successfully get Joey Bosa to jump offsides with the hard count. The Chargers thought the play would be called dead and as a result, Travis Kelce was able to find a seam in the middle of the field for a big reception.
One play later Mahomes made a great play to hit Jerick McKinnon for the passing touchdown to make it a 10-7 game. Instead of having the chance for a three-possession lead, the Bolts instead had a three-point lead after this horrendous call.
Chargers fans aren't the only ones who think the penalty on Bryce Callahan was absurd.
Defensive expert Darius Butler, who has some of the best expert insight on NFL coverages and defenses in the NFL media landscape, agreed that this was a horrendous call on Callahan.
That was a HORRIBLE call! OPI if anything.
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) September 16, 2022
MVS literally threw Callahan (who had good leverage) out of the way smh.
If there is anyone who knows what a penalty does and doesn't look like it is Darius Butler. He is not alone, though, as NFL analyst Warren Sharp was not shy in expressing his distaste with the penalty call on Callahan.
The Chargers would go on to punt on their next offensive drive, completely flipping the momentum. If this truly ends up being the inflection point of the game then Chargers fans will not be happy with the referees.