Xavier Worthy had a productive first half in the AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills. The star rookie scored a touchdown and made a couple of big plays to help his team get a 21-16 lead at the end of the first half.
However, there was one controversial moment in the game. Worthy made a tough catch, which the Bills challenged. The call was not reversed, but video footage created a lot of buzz on social media. The fans called out the referees, believing the officials made the wrong decision.
Fans React to Xavier Worthy’s Controversial Catch in AFC Championship Game
The Chiefs could have still scored a touchdown on the drive even if the call hadn’t gone in their favor, but the fans want better decisions from the referees. A similar thing happened in the NFC Championship Game, where a call went in favor of Saquon Barkley, and the fans were not happy with it.
In the week leading up to the AFC Championship Game, there was much discussion about how the Chiefs benefitted from some calls going in their favor in the Divisional Round. As a result, any controversial call that would help them in the game against the Bills was bound to create speculation on social media platforms.
Here is how some of the fans reacted to the referees’ ruling in favor of Worthy:
No way that’s a catch
— Paulos (@LoswitheMos) January 27, 2025
“The refs are ruining the game,” said a fan.
“How is that a catch?” questioned another fan.
such an incomplete pass. pretty sure Romo was told not to react as “real” as he did last week when the Refs played the Texans.
— toby neil (@Neil_No_Bull) January 27, 2025
“It’s either a pick or incomplete. In no world is that a catch,” wrote a fan.
Another fan added, “It is impossible to say that Worthy gained possession of this ball and the ball didn’t hit the ground. The one thing it couldn’t be is what they called.”
Even without the ball hitting the ground, at what point on that process did Worthy control the ball?
— Jim Rose (@jimmyr0se) January 27, 2025
It was a tough call, and not all fans believed that the referees made the wrong decision. The officials must have felt there was insufficient evidence to overturn the call, so they stuck with the initial ruling.
The Bills were already flagged for a defensive holding on the same play, so even if it was ruled an interception, the Chiefs would have gotten the ball back. The fans who are fed up with the defending champions’ success love to point out every small thing that has a chance of creating controversy. So, these types of discussions were expected to arise during the game.