CBS seemed to give the Buffalo Bills, and tight end Dalton Kincaid in particular, an accidental lifeline during their AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
The Bills' Super Bowl hopes were dashed on their final offensive play of the successful 32-29 showdown when a Josh Allen pass sailed through Kincaid's hands.
The fourth-down pass, and the Bills' chance to tie the game, was ruled incomplete, however, a blunder by CBS and play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz raised Buffalo fans' hopes.
After the play, Nantz said a flag had been thrown and the network added a yellow flag graphic to his scoring error.
“I didn't see any flags thrown there,” said analyst Tony Romo.
“They told me there's a flag,” Nantz responded, before adding “no flag” after his co-commentator analyzed the Chiefs' blitz package, orchestrated by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, on Allen on fourth down.
CBS Scorebug accidentally showed flag graphic on Buffalo Bills' final play
Josh Allen's fourth-down pass slipped through Dalton Kincaid's hands in the AFC Championship Game
As Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense lined up for what would be the possession that sealed their victory, Nantz clarified that a flag had not been thrown on the Bills' previous play.
The veteran announcer reiterated that no flag had been raised or thrown in the first place.
“We got a report from the sidelines that there had been a flag,” Nantz said, “but there was no flag.” “There was no sanction.”
In the end, the flag graphic proved to be an unbearable provocation for Bills fans watching at home, completing another agonizing playoff loss to the Chiefs for Buffalo.
As Allen dropped back to avoid pressure from the Chiefs Blitz on fourth down on the Bills' final drive, he threw a prayer pass in the direction of tight end Kincaid.
Allen's throw was perfect and sailed straight toward his receiver. But Kincaid, the second-year tight end from Utah, had the ball go through his arms and hit the grass to fall incomplete.
The Kansas City Chiefs sealed their spot in the Super Bowl for the third consecutive year.
That handed the ball to Kansas City and in just a few plays, they were on the verge of running out the clock to reach their third straight Super Bowl.
After the game, Kincaid told reporters, “I mean, it's football.” Josh made a great attempt to get the ball there. It just sucks so much, not being able to get it down. It just hurts a lot.'
Kincaid's downfall means the Buffalo Bills have lost their fourth straight playoff game against the Chiefs, adding to their misery against the AFC's best team of the decade.
It is their second loss in the AFC title game in that same span; lost the last one in 2020, also against Kansas City.