Officials in the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday night’s AFC divisional round win over the Houston Texans was scrutinized throughout the game for questionable calls.
From ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman to Texans players after the game to social media, officials were ripped off from all angles.
Two penalties were awarded the Texans that attracted anger.
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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tries to avoid Houston Texans defensive ends Will Anderson Jr., left, and Denico Autry during the AFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Houston edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was called for giving the passer a third down in the first quarter. Anderson appeared to shove Mahomes in the chest after throwing the ball incomplete to Travis Kelce. Anderson was flagged.
The second penalty came during a Mahomes scramble in the third quarter. He had two blockers on the move and three defenders coming at him. He moved to the right and then to the left again when he decided to slide.
Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o wrapped Mahomes around the neck as he slid. Despite the blasting nature of the piece, To’oTo’o called for unnecessary roughness.
The first penalty extended the drive and ended with a field goal. The second penalty pushed Kansas City down the field and the drive ended with a touchdown.
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The chefs won the match 23-14.
Aikman ripped the penalty on To’oTo’o.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes warms up before the AFC divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
“Oh, come on,” said the great Dallas Cowboys. “I mean, he’s a runner. I can’t disagree with that. He barely gets hit. That’s the second penalty called against the Texans now…
“They have to address it in the offseason. As a quarterback, you can’t run around and play games with defenders and then be able to draw a penalty.”
He wasn’t the only one who thought the officials had made a mistake.
The Texans staff also talked about it after the game.
“We knew coming into this game it was us against everyone,” Houton head coach DeMeco Ryans said: via KPRC-TV. “When I say everyone, it’s everyone. Anything and everything… The naysayers, the doubt is true. We had to compete against everyone today. Knowing that going into this match, knowing what we’re dealing with could not have made the mistakes we made.”
Anderson said the team knew it would be “us against the refs.”
Texans running back Joe Mixon was also annoyed.
“Everyone knows what it’s like to play here, you can never leave it up to the referees,” Mixon said. “But I mean the whole world sees what it is, mate. It is what it is.’
Houston Texans long snapper Jon Weeks is benched during the AFC divisional round against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, January 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Head referee Clay Martin explained the calls to a pool reporter after the match.
He said the call to Anderson was the result of “forcible contact with the face mask area,” which warranted the penalty flag. He said there was forced contact with Mahomes’ “hairline” on the other unnecessary roughness call.
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The Chiefs managed to keep Texans quarterback CJ Stroud at bay the entire game. The Chiefs sacked Stroud eight times, including three by George Karlaftis.
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