Chiefs vs. Bengals Ref Makes Surprise Reveal About Key Penalty

The Chiefs escaped Week 2 with a thrilling last-second win over the hated Bengals, and it's clear the loss is tearing Cincinnati apart at the seams.

Star WR Ja'Marr Chase, who was held to a modest four catches for 35 yards, lost his cool mid-game and drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Referee Alex Kemp shared after the contest why he threw the penalty, not going into specifics but making it clear that the flag was warranted.

While the Bengals still knocked in a field goal on that drive, Chase's penalty stopped their momentum and spilled over onto the sidelines.

Chiefs vs. Bengals Referee Reveals Why He Penalized Ja'Marr Chase

"I'm not going to repeat to you what he said," Kemp noted in the pool report. "There was no interpretation with the language that he used - just abusive language."

Chase had to be held back by Joe Burrow and was seen in an animated conversation with head coach Zac Taylor after the game. He's been going through a contentious contract negotiation that's clearly adding to his frustration, though the Bengals don't seem to be interested in fixing that problem soon.

If Chase can't keep his emotions in check, this could be a frequent problem for Cincinnati moving forward. The Bengals are now 0-2 and facing an uphill battle in a difficult division. On the bright side, they get to face the Commanders and Panthers before a crucial game against the Ravens, so they can get the season back on track quickly.

Nonetheless, there's no excuse for Chase's actions and it's good that he paid the price for them.

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