The Chiefs are still looking for their first touchdown in Sunday's game over the Colts after seeing one get negated due to a penalty late in the first quarter—and unsurprisingly, fans have lots of opinions about it.
On a 2nd-and-goal in Indy's red zone, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce took the ball on the direct snap and ran it in for what he and his teammates thought was a touchdown. However, the score was wiped away due to a facemask penalty on Jawaan Taylor, who was seen making contact with Colts defensive end Kwity Paye's helmet on Kelce's four-yard touchdown run.
A closer look at the replay video shows that Taylor didn’t actually grab and yank Paye’s facemask. Rules analyst Gene Steretore said that the call was reviewable, but no official review was made, and the Chiefs were forced to settle for a field goal.
Chiefs called for a face mask and it brings back a touchdown from Travis Kelce. pic.twitter.com/gxdpr1cnm5
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) November 23, 2025
The Chiefs have their work cut out for them Sunday as they face a one-score deficit entering the half in what feels like a must-win game against the Colts.
NFL fans mostly agreed that the refs made the wrong call on the seemingly phantom facemask, one that could prove costly down the stretch:
That’s a good summary of the Chiefs season. Score a touchdown but called back on a BS facemask. And it can be reviewed but it’s not.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) November 23, 2025
Taylor is a penalty machine but that is a horrific call for facemask
— Scott Kacsmar (@ScottKacsmar) November 23, 2025
Horrible facemask call negates a cool Travis Kelce TD
— Jared Smith (@jaredsmithbets) November 23, 2025
But I thought the refs only call penalties to help the Chiefs? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/kFNn17puNX
I don’t like the Kansas City Chiefs as much as the next person but the 2 calls for a “facemask” & then calling the play dead on the free play is actually insane. Investigate these refs NFL you really can’t hire these clowns 🤣
— Billy Harold (@BharoldBilly) November 23, 2025
Chiefs haters take note - this ref crew called a phantom facemask penalty that voided a TD then blew the whistle early to stop KC from running a free play.
— Brent Rendel (@OkiefarmerBrent) November 23, 2025
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Chiefs’ Controversial Facemask Penalty That Wiped Away TD Has NFL Fans Buzzing.
