NFL Fans React to Report of Underinflated Footballs in Patriots-Chiefs Game

Welcome to Deflategate, the sequel.

Well, not quite…but similar!

According to a report from Mark Daniels of Mass Live, members of New England’s special teams unit were frustrated in the locker room on Sunday after the officiating crew underinflated the footballs meant for the kicking units of both the Patriots and Chiefs by two pounds.

After the Patriots complained to the league, officials took the kicking balls to the locker room and discovered that the footballs weighed 11.0 pounds per square inch instead of the legal limit of 13.5 pounds.

Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed his first field goal all season in the first half, and Patriots kicker Chad Ryland also missed a field goal attempt. Even more damning is that Butker’s opening kickoff only traveled to the three-yard line and was returned by New England’s Jalen Reagor. Butker’s kickoffs have traveled for a touchback in 87.1% of his kicks this season and on a mild day in Foxborough, there had to be an explanation.

The footballs traveled better after being reinflated at halftime.

Alas, it was an officiating error this time that caused the underinflation, not allegations of impropriety involving the Patriots’ organization. However, that didn’t stop NFL fans from having plenty of fun on social media at New England’s expense. 

Here are some of the best reactions across the internet from NFL fans upon hearing the report from Daniels: