Shannon Sharpe didn’t hold back this week, blasting NFL officials for what he called a game-altering mistake in the Denver Broncos’ narrow victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. The controversy centered on a late pass interference penalty against Chiefs cornerback Kristian Fulton.
On the play, Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson targeted Jerry Jeudy along the sideline, with both players engaged in minor contact as the ball arrived. After reviewing the replay, Sharpe criticized the decision, insisting the moment never warranted a flag.
“That’s not P.I. That’s a play on. That’s a bulljive call,” Sharpe said emphatically.
Broadcast analyst Al Michaels echoed the criticism, noting that Jeudy appeared to initiate most of the contact. Chiefs fans flooded social media in frustration, arguing the questionable penalty handed Denver the ability to control the clock and shut the door on Kansas City’s chance at a final possession.
Before the disputed call, the Chiefs had trimmed the Broncos’ lead to 19–16 thanks to a field goal from Harrison Butker. But Denver punched in a late touchdown shortly afterward, stretching the lead to 22–19 and leaving Kansas City with little time — and no margin for error — to mount a comeback.
The loss came with more bad news for Kansas City. During the postgame press conference, several Chiefs players expressed clear frustration — not only with the defeat, but with the belief that the officiating decision had an outsized impact on the outcome.
For Denver, the win strengthened their grip on the AFC West and served as a key boost in the playoff race. But the shadow of the controversial penalty continued to dominate the conversation, with many analysts predicting the league may face renewed calls to tighten review procedures for late-game officiating.
The disputed sequence quickly went viral online, with fans dissecting every angle, slowing down the footage, and debating whether the Broncos benefited from a favorable whistle. Some argued the ruling may have tipped the scales in a game that otherwise could have gone either way.
Ultimately, the Broncos celebrated a hard-earned win — but the lingering controversy over the late pass interference call ensures this matchup won’t be forgotten anytime soon. The Chiefs, meanwhile, must regroup, reflect on missed opportunities, and prepare for what comes next.
