The three-peat didn’t happen. The Kansas City Chiefs lost in the NFL Super Bowl yesterday, being thoroughly outclassed by the Philadelphia Eagles 40-22. Oh, what could have been? The Chiefs came within one game of being the first-ever American football team to win three championships in a row: the coveted three-peat.
But while the three-peat narrative dominated headlines, another story followed the Chiefs all year. Was the fix in? Were referees actively rooting for and helping the most-famous team in the country? Despite denials at the highest level of the NFL, the controversy refused to go away.
The Sports and Crime Briefing examines a season full of close calls and strange calls that made headlines all year. We look at each disputed moment, laying out the details and what each side was saying.
Week 1: Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens (September 5, 2024) – Chiefs Won 27-20
The Situation:
The season opener pitted the Chiefs against the Baltimore Ravens in a game that promised fireworks. With the Ravens trailing late in the game, Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely appeared to snatch a crucial touchdown in the final seconds. Had the score stood, the Ravens would have been within one point of the Chiefs, with a chance to take the lead on the ensuing conversion.
