Patrick Mahomes addresses allegations of refereeing bias after penalty shootout.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had his complaints heard during Saturday’s playoff game against the Houston Texans.
He was heavily criticized for two penalties assessed by the referees for his hit on Houston Mahomes. Houston edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was called for picking off a passer on third down in the first quarter.
Anderson was seen shoving Mahomes in the chest after he threw an incomplete pass to Travis Kelce. Anderson is tagged.
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The second penalty came during a tackle by Mahomes in the third quarter. Two defenses and three defenders fall on him on the run. When he decided to slide, he turned to the right and then to the left.
After the game, Houston players and head coach DiMeco Ryans suggested that the referees support the Chiefs with the calls.
Mahomes addressed the fan reaction in an interview on 96.5 The Fan Tuesday.
Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes is tackled by Houston Texas’ Aziz Al-Shair (0) during the first quarter of an AFC divisional game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“I’ve learned that no matter what happens in the game, if you win and keep winning, something will come out. So I don’t pay attention to it,” Mahomes said.
“I mean, obviously, I’ve been on both sides until I felt the calls were made, but at the end of the day, man, those guys are going to do everything they can to make and keep the best calls. Where the players are making the plays in the game.”
“And that’s what determines the outcome. And there was a call here or there that people disagreed with, but at the same time, I think there were a lot of other plays that really determined the outcome of that football game.”
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Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Kansas City Chiefs drives against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Referee Clay Martin explained the call to a pool reporter after the game, saying the call on Anderson was “forcible contact with the face mask area,” which warranted a flag. In another unnecessary cruelty call, he said there was forced contact with Mahomes’ “hairline.”
But many fans were critical of Mahomes after he fell to the ground after being lightly hit by a Texans defender in the fourth quarter. Many fans accused the star quarterback of intentionally taking another penalty, and ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman even criticized Mahomes for the loss of the game.
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“He’s trying to draw the penalty. He’s slowing down instead of running out of bounds. And that was frustrating, and I get it. I get it. It’s frustrating for these defensive players around the league,” Aikman said. .
“Maybe he shouldn’t have done that,” Mahomes said in an interview Tuesday.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes chews on his mouthguard during warmups before a game against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 10, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffman, File)
“The only thing I feel like I did a lot of was the one on the sideline where I didn’t get a flag and the ref saw and didn’t throw a flag. And I realized right away and knew I probably shouldn’t have done that,” Mahomes said.
“But at the same time, everybody’s talking about where I fell, like I tried to smoke the way the defensive line was running.
“So I’m going to try to continue to do that and try not to take those wins away because that’s a smart way to stay in the football game.”
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