Raiders' Pierce 'heard a whistle' on sideline before botched snap vs. Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said officials blew a whistle on the team's sideline before the controversial ending in Friday's 19-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
"We heard a whistle on our sideline," Pierce said Saturday when asked about the contest's last play, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez.
With 14 seconds remaining, the Raiders had the ball at the Chiefs' 32-yard line and were in position to kick a potential game-winning field goal. But Las Vegas botched the snap, and Kansas City recovered the ball to seal the win.
The Raiders were called for an illegal shift penalty on the play that Kansas City declined. However, an official lined along the Raiders' sideline threw a flag to seemingly signal a false start before the snap, which would've blown the play dead with Las Vegas maintaining possession. The refs discussed the situation on the field and ultimately ruled it an illegal shift.
I’m extremely confused. The ref on the top of the screen clearly called the play dead. The Chiefs declined the flag and awarded the fumble recovery. Raiders were robbed pic.twitter.com/OwfoTKnYBR
— The Hood Therapist (@OhhMar24) November 29, 2024
No one committed a false start. Raiders were lined up incorrectly. Even the Raiders tight end is motioning to the receiver because he isn’t lined up right. Ball is already snapped.
— Farzin Vousoughian (@Farzin21) November 30, 2024
So it’s illegal formation. Refs got it right. https://t.co/JtMtFfgXjf pic.twitter.com/W7krfkwfKG
Pierce said the Raiders will send their complaints to the league office, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"We do that every game," the coach added about his decision to voice the team's opinion to the NFL, per Gutierrez. "Typically, anywhere from three to five questions, and then we'll get a letter within 24-to-36 hours, and we'll read it and learn from it."
Michael Signora - the NFL senior vice president of football and international communications - addressed the questionable play Friday.
"Had the clock been running at the snap, then by rule an illegal shift would convert to a false start. Since the clock was stopped, an illegal shift is a live ball foul," Signora said, according to The Athletic's Tashan Reed.
The Raiders dropped to 2-10 with the loss. Meanwhile, the Chiefs improved 11-1 this season, including 9-0 in one-score games.