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SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 28: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell looks on from the sideline prior to the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 28: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell looks on from the sideline prior to the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Imagine putting $1 million on the line for your team to win the biggest game of their season, but the supposed bad officiating crushed your dreams. That’s how Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy felt after the Chiefs edged Josh Allen’s Bills 32-29 in a nail-biting game. For instance, Josh Allen, being ruled short of a first down, simply did not sit well with fans. While one official signaled that the QB had gotten enough for the first down, another official signaled from the other side that the team was short of the line to gain. Ultimately, the refs ruled him short, which resulted in a turnover.
This is just one instance, though. Xavier Worthy’s catch, which looked like a 50-50 call, went the Chiefs’ way, plus Travis Kelce taunting Damar Hamlin also resulted in Jordan Phillips hitting the TE. This got the Bills player flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. All this resulted in the Barstool Sports mogul unleashing his frustration on X. In a short clip he shared on social media, he stated:
“The biggest [expletive] I’ve ever seen,” Portnoy said. “First of all, the third-and-3 play, this spot is disgusting! Knee’s not down. This is a first down. So that spot, off. That’s a bad spot right there by, I don’t know, half a yard right there? And then we’re gonna go for it on fourth down, which we all know what happens.”
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Dave Portnoy, the $100 million tycoon’s fiery words have ignited a storm. A storm putting Roger Goodell’s NFL in the spotlight. Portnoy’s frustration boiled over after a controversial fourth-down ruling. The Bills were leading 22-21. And Josh Allen appeared to convert a crucial fourth-down play. But the referees ruled him short. The call stood even after review. Meanwhile, the Chiefs seized the opportunity. They turned the stop into a touchdown drive and an eventual victory.
“But the fact that these refs, who decides where, first of all, this is clearly a first down. It’s like not even f—king close. And then what is this? That one ref is way past and another one’s a foot off, you just randomly decide where you’re throwing the football? What if the other guy got the spot?” Portnoy questioned and mentioned, “I quit football.”
The Barstool founder wasn’t just emotionally invested, though. His $1 million Super Bowl bet on the Bills had potential. Potential to rake in a whopping $5.5 million if Buffalo won it all. Despite all the difficulties, the Bills even tied the game at 29-29 late in the fourth quarter. However, Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker drilled a go-ahead field goal. And it left Josh Allen and the Bills with one final chance. They fell short. They went four-and-out in a heartbreaking finish. However, Portnoy didn’t just blame the referees.
I’m quitting watching football. There is no other way to teach @nflcommish a lesson. This is blatant cheating. #nflrigged pic.twitter.com/fGzya6LOQX
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) January 27, 2025
In a different video, he also took aim at Bills HC Sean McDermott for running a poorly executed “tush push” play on fourth down. “McDermott should be in prison, the Bills coach… Do they not know what a tush push is? You put two f—— huge guys in and you push!” he ranted. “Yeah, the refs f—– you. Yeah, the tush push absolutely the dumbest.”
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The frustration in Buffalo extended beyond Portnoy, though. And fans once again saw their Super Bowl dreams crushed at Arrowhead Stadium.
Chiefs triumph; Josh Allen and Bills left heartbroken!
This game wasn’t just about the incidents that invited Portnoy’s outrage. It was about the Chiefs’ relentless dominance. Patrick Mahomes led his team to a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. They’re showcasing why Kansas City remains the gold standard. The Chiefs’ defense stepped up when it mattered most. And they forced Allen into hurried throws and sealed the win with a fourth-down stop. The Bills had their chances despite the controversy.
Allen had 3:33 and three timeouts to orchestrate a game-winning drive but couldn’t capitalize. Tight end Dalton Kincaid has been a key target, but he failed to reel in a fourth-down pass under pressure.
It was another so-close yet so-far moment for Buffalo in their playoff saga against Kansas City. Allen now has a blistering 4-1 record against the Chiefs in the regular season. But in playoffs? It’s a disappointing 0-4.
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NFL, American Football Herren, USA Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots Jan 5, 2025 Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen 17 on the sideline as they take on the New England Patriots in the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Foxborough Gillette Stadium Massachusetts USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xDavidxButlerxIIx 20250105_db2_sv3_026
The Chiefs’ victory sets up a historic Super Bowl showdown. They now have the chance to become the first team to win three consecutive Lombardi Trophies. Mahomes and company are chasing immortality, but the pain of another Arrowhead heartbreak lingers for Bills fans.
Portnoy’s explosive accusations cast a shadow over the game as the Chiefs celebrated their triumph. Was it just sour grapes from a man losing $1 million, or do his claims warrant a deeper look? Either way, the NFL finds itself under scrutiny. Fans demand transparency amid recent controversies around officiating.
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The Kansas City Chiefs move on, but the debate over fairness in the NFL might just be heating up. What do you think?
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Debate
Is the NFL rigged, or is Dave Portnoy just a sore loser with a big mouth?