Dee Ford Offsides Penalty Negates Chiefs Interception on Late Patriots Touchdown Drive

The Chiefs had the chance to put the game away with less than a minute left to play.

Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Dee Ford made a costly penalty late in the AFC Championship that cost his team an interception. 

The Patriots, down 28–24 with 54 seconds left to play, were facing a 3rd-and-10 from the Chiefs' 34-yard line with Tom Brady looking to lead his team on his ninth postseason game-winning drive. Brady eyed tight end Rob Gronkowski, but his pass was intercepted. 

The referees threw a penalty on the play, however. Ford was called for lining up in the neutral zone, costing the Chiefs a potential game-clinching interception.

Ford discussed his crucial error postgame. 

"They said I was in the neutral zone. I gotta see the ball," Ford told reporters. "I gotta see the ball, especially at that time of the game and what’s at stake."

The Patriots ended up scoring to take the lead with less than one minute remaining. The Chiefs kicked a field goal on their ensuing drive to force overtime.