Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes heard the complaints about the officiating during Saturday’s playoff game against the Houston Texans.
The officials came under heavy criticism over two penalties given to Houston for hits on Mahomes. Houston rusher Will Anderson Jr. was called for roughing the passer on third down in the first quarter.
Anderson appeared to poke Mahomes in the chest after throwing an incomplete pass to tight end Travis Kelce. Anderson was reported.
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The second penalty came during a Mahomes scrum in the third quarter. He had two blockers running and three defenders rushing at him. He moved to his right and then moved back to his left when he decided to slide.
After the game, Houston players and even head coach DeMeco Ryans suggested that the referees were favoring the Chiefs with calls.
Mahomes addressed the fan reaction during an interview on 96.5 The Fan Tuesday.
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by Azeez Al-Shaair (0) of the Houston Texans during the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoffs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“I kind of learned that no matter what happens in the game, something is going to come out of it if you win and you keep winning. So I don’t really pay attention to it,” Mahomes said.
“I mean, obviously, I’ve been on both sides as far as how I felt about the calls, but, at the end of the day, man, these guys do their best to make the best calls and keep where players play in the game.
“And that’s what decides the outcome. And obviously, there was a call here or there that people didn’t agree with, but, at the same time, I think there was a lot other actions that really decided the outcome of this football match.
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Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Kansas City Chiefs is hit during an AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Head referee Clay Martin explained the calls to a pool reporter after the game, saying the call on Anderson was the result of “forced contact with the facemask area,” which warranted a flag . He said there was forced contact to Mahomes’ “hairline” on the other unnecessary roughness call.
But many fans also criticized Mahomes after he fell to the ground after being lightly hit by Texans defenders in the fourth quarter. Many fans accused the star quarterback of intentionally “flopping” in an attempt to get another penalty, and ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman even criticized Mahomes for the fall during the game.
“He tries to take the penalty. Rather than going out of bounds, he slows down. And it’s the frustration, and I understand. I understand it. It’s the frustration of these defensive players in the league,” Aikman said. .
During Mahomes’ interview Tuesday, he said he “probably shouldn’t have done that.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes chews his mouthguard during warmups before a game against the Denver Broncos, Nov. 10, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, file)
“I would say the only one where I felt like I overdid it was the one on the sideline where I didn’t get a flag, and the ref saw it and didn’t throw a flag. flag and I immediately understood it and I know I probably shouldn’t have done that,” Mahomes said.
“But, at the same time, the one that everyone’s talking about, where I fell, it’s like I was just trying to avoid getting smoked by the defensive lineman that was coming.
“So I’m going to try to keep doing that and not take those hits because that’s the smart way to stay in football.”
