(This story has been updated to add new information.)
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense wasn’t happy after the Kansas City Chiefs scored the first touchdown of Monday Night Football in the first quarter on Oct. 6.
And that wasn’t the only moment that left Jags fans frustrated.
Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce ended up in the end zone, with a little help not only from quarterback Patrick Mahomes but also from receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
A blown call by referee Brad Rogers and his crew, or the right call? Here’s what happened.
Travis Kelce’s scoring play: Legal or not?
The Chiefs faced third and goal at the Jacksonville 2, and Mahomes rolled to his right.
As the quarterback rolled out, Kelce moved from the slot toward the sideline, parallel to the goal line.
Smith-Schuster, from the outside, pinched inside and obstructed the Jaguar in coverage, giving Kelce plenty of room to haul in the TD pass.
An illegal pick, right? Not so simple.
What does the NFL rulebook state?
Under Rule 8, Section 5, Pass Interference: “It is pass interference by either team when any act by a player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage significantly hinders an eligible player’s opportunity to catch the ball.”
What did the officials rule on Travis Kelce TD in Jaguars-Chiefs?
After a consultation, which included a vehement appeal by Mahomes to overturn the penalty, the officials picked up the flag and allowed Kelce’s touchdown to stand. They ruled that Smith-Schuster’s contact had occurred at the Jaguars 1, within the one-yard window permitted with the line of scrimmage at the 2.
That left the Chiefs on top of the Jaguars 7-0 with 4:02 remaining in the first quarter.
Did referees miss pass interference on a Chiefs interception?
That wasn’t the only frustration for the Jaguars, who ended up on the wrong end of a disputed call again in the fourth quarter.
With Jacksonville ahead 21-14, Trevor Lawrence aimed a pass under pressure, and Kansas City’s Trent McDuffie snatched a diving interception — after Jaguars receiver Parker Washington was sent flying in a downfield collision.
Lawrence argued that officials should have flagged the Chiefs for pass interference on the play, and ESPN’s broadcast crew agreed, but no penalty was assessed.
The Chiefs made the turnover pay off with Kareem Hunt’s 5-yard touchdown run, tying the score 21-21 with 12:20 remaining.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Did Jaguars get raw deal from refs on Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes-Travis Kelce touchdown?
Reporting by Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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