The Chargers were in Kansas City territory with a four-point lead within the two-minute caution before halftime on Sunday’s game.
On the third and seventh plays, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was in shotgun formation, but was unable to find an open receiver after taking the snap.
So Herbert started running but went out of bounds before he got the first down, and it looks like the Chiefs’ defense got an important stop, or at least forced the Chargers to attempt a fourth-down play.
But Los Angeles got a break when Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton shoved Herbert after he was out of bounds.
Bolton was penalized for unnecessary roughness. This gave the Chargers a first down and used that gift to score a field goal just before the end of the second quarter.
Many fans watching at home were unhappy with the penalty and took to Twitter to express their displeasure.
So did the Chiefs’ wide receiver. Mekor Hardmancurrently in the wounded reserve.
“Why?” Hardman tweeted, adding an unfunny upside-down smiley emoji.
In the end, it didn’t matter as the Chiefs won 30–27 and KC scored to take the lead before Bolton made an interception that sealed the game.