What Falcons said about controversial non-call on the Chiefs in the end zone

Falcons coach Raheem Morris isn’t dumb.

Morris is all too aware of the NFL’s desire to shield game officials from criticism, and he wasn’t about to offer his thoughts when asked about a fourth-quarter play in the end zone.

A pass intended for Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was broken up by Chiefs defensive back Bryan Cook, and many people thought a flag should have been thrown.

Here is the play and a small selection of what fans were saying.

Morris deflected when asked about the play after the game

“I like my money. I like my money that (owner) Arthur Blank gives me,” Morris told reporters. “I’m very smart enough to be aware enough to talk about officials. They made the call, or they didn’t make the call. It is what it is. We had a chance to win the football game on the last play of the game.”

Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins said he was partly to blame for Atlanta not scoring a touchdown on that particular play.

“I didn’t have a good viewpoint on it. It was tough,” Cousins said, per the postgame quote sheet. “I was anticipating working (receiver Darnell) Mooney and when the safety was there came back to Kyle but I felt like I was a little late to get to him and was running out of real estate and in hindsight if I could have the play over again, I either would have gotten to Kyle earlier or if I were to get to him as late as I did to put the ball up higher and to not even really put it in the ref’s hands at that point. That’s kind of where I correct my own play there.”

Safety Jessie Bates thought a flag should have been thrown.

“It was hard to see it when it was live, bang-bang type of play,” he told reporters. “Clearly, I’m going to say it was a P.I., but nothing that we can do now. It is what it is.”