ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — No Buffalo Bills were fined by the NFL for game-related rules violations during Week 2, but one wide receiver did draw a hefty fine for verbally assaulting a referee.
Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during a 26-25 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City. The flag meant that instead of a third-and-short situation, the Bengals faced a third-and-22 from the Chiefs 45.
The Bengals kicked a field goal on that drive to take a 25-23 lead with 5 minutes, 12 seconds to play. Kansas City eventually won it with a 51-yard field goal by Harrison Butker.
That flag cost Chase $31,599, easily tops in the league this week.
"It's just simply abusive language toward a game official. That's all it was," NFL referee Alex Kemp told media after the game. "There was really no interpretation. I'm not going to repeat to you what he said, but there was no interpretation with the language that he used."
He added: "Profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal, abusive language toward a game official. That's the line. When that line gets crossed, we simply can't let that happen in pro football."