The NFL fined three members of the Buffalo Bills as a result of a fight that occurred during the AFC championship game against Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium last Sunday.
With Bills behind the Chiefs 38-21 at the end of the fourth period, the Chiefs ‘defensive tip, Tanoh Kpassagnon, got his hands on Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen and didn’t let go, taking him back for a sack of 18 yards. Although the serve was credited to Kpassagnon, it was the defensive side Alex Okafor who ended up taking Allen down.
Frustrated because the serve put Bills in fourth and 28th – ruining the golden opportunity that Buffalo had fought against the Chiefs by recovering a side kick four moves earlier – Allen threw the ball towards Okafor’s head while they were both on the ground. Okafor got to his feet and exchanged words with Allen. This started a push fight involving strikers Jon Feliciano and Dion Dawkins from Okafor and Bills.
After a long discussion, the refereeing team decided to penalize Allen and Okafor for unsportsmanlike conduct, while signaling Feliciano and Dawkins for unnecessary rudeness. All penalties compensated. The Bills kicked a 51 yard field goal with 3:19 remaining, blocking the Chiefs’ 38-24 victory.
Some Chiefs fans were puzzled that a single penalty on one Kansas City player and three on Buffalo players would make up for it – especially since the two Buffalo attackers initiated contact with Okafor.
Apparently, the NFL now agrees. According reports from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, all three Bills players were fined for their roles in the incident.
Allen was fined $ 15,000 for instigating the fight, while Feliciano and Dawkins were fined $ 10,000 for falling into the situation.