Amidst all the noise from fans about Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs getting favourable calls from referees, the star quarterback insisted that it’s simply not the case.
The speculation comes after a handful of controversial calls went the Chiefs’ way in their divisional-round win over Houston on Saturday, leading to criticism from around the football world. Similar views on the Chiefs getting favourable calls also have popped up previously after Kansas City games during the team’s dominant run atop the AFC.
“I don’t feel that way,” Mahomes said Wednesday, per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, when asked if he’s getting a friendly whistle. “I just try to play football at the end of the day. The referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and as proper as they can.”
The three-time Super Bowl champion drew a controversial roughing the passer penalty on a third-down play in the first quarter, extending a drive where Kansas City wound up with points.
Then in the final two minutes of the third quarter, Mahomes drew yet another critical penalty, this time an unnecessary roughness call that put the Chiefs in Texans territory up one.
This foul drew the most controversy, as Mahomes had scrambled past the line of scrimmage, making him a runner, but slid down at the last second. Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o was penalized, even though a replay showed that To’oTo’o connected with his teammate more than Mahomes.
ESPN rules analyst Russell Yurk believed on-air that there was not enough contact on both plays to warrant a flag.
Regardless, Mahomes has blocked out the outside noise, and he will continue to play his brand of football Sunday when the Chiefs host the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship.
“For me, it’s go out there, play hard,” he said. “Do whatever I can to win the football game and live with the results based on what I can do.”