Mahomes Comments on Referees and Penalties
Patrick Mahomes doesn’t think NFL referees are giving him special treatment or favoring the Kansas City Chiefs in their games.
Chiefs and Penalty Calls
In last week’s win over Houston, the Texans were penalized twice for hits on Mahomes, one of which came on third down, extending a drive that ended in points. This led some fans and members of the Texans defense to feel that the officials were giving Mahomes preferential treatment.
“I don’t feel that way,” Mahomes said in a media session before the AFC title game against Buffalo. “The referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and proper as they can.”
Mahomes emphasized that his focus is on playing football and doing his best to help the team win. He trusts that the referees are trying to make fair calls and accepts the results of the game based on his efforts and performance.
Penalty Statistics for Chiefs
Though it may seem like the Chiefs get more favorable calls, the data shows otherwise. Over the past three seasons, including playoffs, Kansas City has actually been penalized 147 more yards than their opponents.
When it comes to critical moments, such as third or fourth downs, opponents have gained 20 more first downs through penalties since Mahomes became the starter in 2018. The Chiefs have the seventh-worst penalty differential in the fourth quarter or overtime of close games during that period.
Texans’ Views on Referee Bias
The idea that referees favor the Chiefs was apparent in the Houston locker room before their playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium, where they lost 23-14. Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said they knew going into the game it would be “us versus the refs.”
Mahomes’ Reaction to Penalty Talk
Mahomes remained calm when asked about the accusations of flopping and drawing penalties, such as when he was touched by a Houston linebacker while scrambling and appeared to exaggerate the contact to draw a flag. The referees didn’t throw a penalty flag, and Mahomes’ actions sparked criticism from former NFL quarterback Troy Aikman, who was calling the game for ESPN.
However, Mahomes didn’t let the criticism affect him. He explained that every year brings new referees and new situations, making the game unpredictable. He’s focused on continuing to play hard and trying to win games without worrying about the penalties.
