Bengals fans are livid with refs, Eli Apple over gifting Chiefs do-overs

Cincinnati Bengals fans were furious after a Kansas City Chiefs drive was extended due to a controversial call, and a bad penalty committed by Eli Apple.

The last thing a fan of an NFL team wants is for a shady call to come into play in a pivotal portion of a big game. For those who watched the AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Bengals appeared to have forced the Chiefs to punt the ball after successfully stopping them on third-and-nine. But there was one problem. Apparently, one of the referees blew the whistle to signal that the play was dead before quarterback Patrick Mahomes hiked the football. That gifted the Chiefs another shot at keeping their drive alive.

https://twitter.com/FieldYates/status/1619885761997987841

Then, on the replayed third-and-nine, another Bengals stop was overturned, this time due to cornerback Eli Apple committing a holding penalty. That gave Kansas City an automatic first down.

Let’s just say that Bengals fans, NFL fans, and those in the media were perplexed by what went down on that drive in the fourth quarter.

NFL Twitter loses it after Chiefs gifted do-overs in fourth quarter

Zac Taylor has every right to be upset. This is unreal.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 30, 2023

If I was Zac Taylor I’d throw my head set at the ref.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 30, 2023

The Bengals are called for defensive holding on 5th down.

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) January 30, 2023

The refs reallyyyy tried to help out the Chiefs right there, but the defense wasn’t gunna let that happen 🔥

— lindsey (@JacketsLindsey) January 30, 2023

Eli Apple: holds everything but his tongue.

— Casey Stern (@CaseyStern) January 30, 2023

If Eli Apple was as good on the field as he is on Twitter this would be a different game

— ☠SirWhoDey☠ (@SirWhoDey) January 30, 2023

Are freaking serious Eli apple

— Earl Gill Jr (@earlearlgilljr) January 30, 2023

It looked like the Bengals were entering unfavorable territory. Not only the questionable play call, but the mistake from Apple, who has gloated on social media after big wins by the Bengals, with one of the most notable instances being their Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills.

Luckily for the Bengals, this drive didn’t result in any points being scored by the Chiefs. After being given a new set of downs, Kansas City did gain 16-yards on the next play, but were forced to punt the football back to Cincinnati four plays later.

No fan wants to see the referees get so involved near the end of a game. Let alone the Conference Championship Game with a spot in Super Bowl 57 on the line.