Washington, D.C. – Veteran tight end Zach Ertz of the Washington Commanders delivered a classy statement just hours after a 7-28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. On National Tight End Day, Ertz not only joined NFL’s all-time elite with his 800th career reception but also called on fans to end the “drama” surrounding the

Virtual Measurement play that exploded on X (Twitter).

The pivotal moment occurred in the second half, as the Commanders pushed to tie the score at 14-7. Quarterback Marcus Mariota delivered an accurate pass to Ertz on

4th & inches near midfield. Initially, officials spotted it as a first down, sending Arrowhead Stadium into a frenzy.

However, after a review and utilizing the NFL’s new Hawk-Eye Virtual Measurement

technology, the call was overturned: the ball was short by 5 inches. The Commanders turned the ball over on downs, paving the way for the Chiefs to score a touchdown via Rashee Rice, extending the lead to 21-7. Video of the play went viral with over 50,000 views, sparking accusations of a “biased spot” and “refs favoring Chiefs” from Commanders fans.

In his post-game sideline interview with ESPN, Ertz – the Super Bowl LII champion with the Philadelphia Eagles – completely dismissed all suspicions. “I know everyone’s buzzing about that Virtual Measurement play on X.

Stop it! It was just a normal play, and the decision was completely by the rules. We lost because the Chiefs played better – Patrick Mahomes and Rashee Rice exploded in the second half. They

deserved the 28-7 win. Don’t blame the refs; focus on real football.”Ertz also offered special praise for his counterpart, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who dominates the all-time tight end rankings. “Today, I rank

6th with 800 receptions in just 176 games. But Travis Kelce is 3rd with over 1,035 receptions in about 182 games – that’s extraordinary! He’s a living legend, and I

respect him immensely. Thanks to the Chiefs for giving me such a beautiful milestone.”