February 15, 2025
According to the NFL, the controversial penalties against Patrick Mahomes were correctly assessed by the Chiefs

According to the NFL, the controversial penalties against Patrick Mahomes were correctly assessed by the Chiefs

As the Kansas City Chiefs picked up another victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday, history once again focused on officiating. As has been the case all season, the Chiefs benefited from some controversial penalties against Houston.

On Saturday, it was Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes who caused the most penalties, taking several unnecessary rough hits and roughing passer calls, causing quite a stir. ESPN analyst Troy Aikman was vocal about his anger over the calls during the broadcast; Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said at the start of the game that it would be “us against all,” and agreed with the referees with that statement.

However, on Sunday, the NFL said it made the right decisions.

NFL rules analyst Walt Anderson, a former referee who now serves as the league’s communications liaison, joined NFL GameDay Sunday morning to discuss the controversial calls.

The first call Anderson responded to was a rough tackle on the passer in the first quarter. During the third-down play, Mahomes was tackled by Houston defensive end Will Anderson Jr. shortly after releasing the ball. The penalty gave the Chiefs 15 yards and a first down on a drive that ultimately ended in a field goal.

Anderson said the reason for the call was because Mahomes’ head moved slightly during the tackle, indicating contact with his helmet.

“If there is contact with the quarterback’s boss, it will probably be reported by the officials,” Anderson said.

Anderson said the response assistant can only be used when there is no contact with the helmet; Because Mahomes’ helmet was hit, officials were unable to use the replay aid to confirm whether the contact was forceful.

“You may end up having to discuss whether you feel it was violent or not, and that will be one of the conversations the competition committee will have to consider next year,” Anderson said.

The rules analyst added that rough hits on the passer are one of the few fouls for which referees are instructed to award a penalty “when in doubt.”

“They’re going to protect the quarterbacks,” Anderson said of the officials.

Anderson also addressed an unnecessary roughness in the third quarter in which Mahomes slipped late and two Texas defenders appeared to collide with each other. “Whether it looks like it or not, officers have to say it based on what they see,” Anderson said.

Anderson said that Texas linebacker Henry To’oTo’o’s helmet grazed the top of Mahomes’ helmet while he was already on the ground, which was enough to draw the penalty. The severity of helmet-to-helmet contact does not matter.

“Even if replay support could help with that, if that kind of contact occurs, it won’t change that,” Anderson said.

Going forward, Anderson said the goal of improving leadership is to make the game better, not perfect.

“This is one of the areas that is being discussed as well, in terms of what is violent and what is not,” Anderson said. “But the game will never be perfect, and we don’t want to let perfection be the enemy of good. … In the areas that are gray and potentially controversial, we have to go to those on the field.

Anderson added that the league will look at expanding the ability of referees to provide response support in the offseason.

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