Dallas, TX – The NFL has officially rejected a formal complaint filed by Kansas City Chiefs president Clark Hunt regarding the officiating during the team’s 31–28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell personally addressed the league’s stance late Monday evening.

The Chiefs had submitted over 10GB of video, audio, and game footage, alleging “clear and damaging officiating bias,” particularly on two fourth-quarter pass interference calls involving cornerback Trent McDuffie. The calls, both extending key Dallas drives, ultimately led to 14 points in a tightly contested primetime matchup.

Despite admitting the officiating crew “could have handled certain sequences more cleanly,” Goodell emphasized the outcome was decided by performance, not penalties. “While the sequences in question weren’t perfectly managed, we do not believe they altered the final result,” he stated. “Dallas made critical plays on both sides of the ball.”

The response comes amid rising fan backlash and speculation about league favoritism. Hunt’s statement last week accused the NFL of applying a “double standard” when it comes to officiating high-stakes games. However, the league reiterated its commitment to fairness while pushing back on the idea of institutional bias.

Dallas, now 6-5-1, capitalized on key moments with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb leading the comeback, while Kansas City dropped to 6-6 despite Patrick Mahomes throwing four touchdowns. Goodell stressed, “Officiating is never perfect. But we review each game thoroughly and found no evidence of misconduct or undue influence.”

As the playoff race tightens, the league’s decision is unlikely to satisfy Chiefs fans—but the message from Park Avenue is clear. “We understand the frustration,” Goodell concluded. “But our job is to protect the integrity of the game, and that means standing firm when the facts don’t support the accusations.”