Officers within the Kansas City Chiefs AFC divisional spherical win over the Houston Texans on Saturday night time got here below scrutiny over questionable calls all through the sport.
From ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman to Texans gamers after the sport to social media, officers had been getting lit up from all angles.
There have been two penalties referred to as on the Texans that drew ire.
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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tries to keep away from Houston Texans defensive ends Will Anderson Jr., left, and Denico Autry throughout the AFC divisional playoff sport Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. (AP Picture/Ed Zurga)
Houston edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was referred to as for roughing the passer on a 3rd down within the first quarter. Anderson appeared to push Mahomes within the chest after he had thrown the ball incomplete to tight finish Travis Kelce. Anderson was flagged.
The second penalty got here throughout a Mahomes scramble within the third quarter. He had two blockers on a run and three defenders bearing down on him. He moved to his proper after which again to his left when he determined to slip.
Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o hit Mahomes across the neck as he slid. Regardless of the bang-bang nature of the play, To’oTo’o was referred to as for pointless roughness.
The primary penalty prolonged the drive and it ended with a discipline aim. The second penalty pushed Kansas Metropolis up the sphere and the drive ended with a landing.
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The Chiefs won the game, 23-14.
Aikman ripped the penalty on To’oTo’o.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes warms up earlier than the AFC divisional playoff sport towards the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas Metropolis.. (AP Picture/Ed Zurga)
“Oh, come on,” the Dallas Cowboys nice mentioned. “I imply, he’s a runner. I couldn’t disagree with that another He barely will get hit. That’s the second penalty now that’s been referred to as towards the Texans.…
“They’ve gotta tackle it within the offseason. You may’t, as a quarterback, run round and play video games with defenders after which be capable to draw a penalty.”
He was not the one one who thought the officers made a mistake.
Texans personnel spoke out about it after the sport as nicely.
“We knew going into this sport it was us versus everyone,” Houton head coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned, via KPRC-TV. “After I say everyone, it’s everyone. All the no matter… The naysayers, the doubt proper. All people we needed to go towards as we speak. Figuring out that going into this sport, understanding what we had been up towards, we will’t make the errors that we made.”
Anderson mentioned the group knew it was going to be “us versus the refs.”
Texans working again Joe Mixon was additionally peeved.
“All people understand how it’s, taking part in up right here, you possibly can by no means go away it into the refs’ arms,” Mixon mentioned. “However I imply the entire world see what it’s, bro. It’s what it’s.”
Houston Texans lengthy snapper Jon Weeks sits on the bench throughout the AFC divisional spherical sport towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Picture/Ed Zurga)
Head referee Clay Martin defined the calls to a pool reporter after the sport.
He mentioned the decision on Anderson was a outcome from “forcible contact to the face masks space,” which warranted the penalty flag. He mentioned there was forcible contact to Mahomes’ “hairline” on the opposite pointless roughness name.
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The Chiefs had been in a position to hold Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud at bay all the sport. The Chiefs sacked Stroud eight instances, together with three from George Karlaftis.
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