Chiefs coach questions false start call that sealed loss to Broncos

The Kansas City Chiefs lost their third game of the season in a rivalry matchup that hinged on a disputed penalty call at the goal line. The Denver Broncos won 28-24 on Sunday, securing first place in the AFC West after trailing by 11 points in the fourth quarter.

With 15 seconds remaining, Patrick Mahomes drove the Chiefs to the Broncos' one-yard line. After a pass was thrown away on second down and Kenneth Walker III was stuffed by JL Skinner on third, the Chiefs faced a fourth-and-one. Mahomes threw a pass to Rashee Rice that appeared to cross the goal line for a winning touchdown, but officials flagged right tackle Jaylon Moore for a false start.

The penalty pushed the Chiefs back to the six-yard line. Malcolm Roach then sacked Mahomes to end the game. The call drew scrutiny because Moore appeared to shift his stance slightly before turning his head left, leading to questions about which action triggered the whistle.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the play in his postgame press conference. He said he did not see a false start. "I didn't see it," Reid said with a chuckle. "But that's one man's opinion. I saw him move his head, but I didn't see a false start."

Jaylon Moore told reporters in the locker room that he had not yet reviewed the footage. "I mean I've got to go back and look at it, still haven't got a chance to look at it," Moore said. "But regardless, I've just got to be better."

The false start was not the only factor in the loss. Earlier in the fourth quarter, with the Chiefs leading 24-21, Mahomes was sacked on third-and-two. Reid chose to send Harrison Butker for a 54-yard field goal instead of punting or going for the first down. Butker missed wide right, and the Broncos scored the game-winning touchdown on the subsequent possession.

The result drops the Chiefs to 5-3 after a perfect 5-0 start. For Mahomes, it is the third career loss, including playoffs, when his team held a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. He is now 80-3 in those specific situations.