Officials in Kansas City Chiefs Saturday night’s AFC Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans came under scrutiny for questionable calls throughout the game.
From ESPN anchor Troy Aikman to the Texans players after the game to social media, the officials were covered from all angles.
Two penalties were awarded Texans it caused outrage.
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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tries to avoid Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr., left, and Denic Autry during an AFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Houston edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. he was called for roughing the passer after a third down in the first quarter. Anderson appeared to shove Mahomes in the chest after throwing the ball incomplete to tight end Travis Kelce. Anderson is tagged in.
The second penalty came during a Mahomes scramble in the third quarter. He had two run blockers and three defenders attacking him. He moved to the right and then back to the left when he decided to slide.
Texas lineman Henry To’oTo’o hit Mahomes around the neck while sliding. Despite the bang-bang nature of the show, To’oTo’o was called out for unnecessary rudeness.
The first penalty extended the action, which ended with a field goal. A second penalty pushed Kansas City ahead, and the attack ended with a goal.
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Chiefs won 23-14.
Aikman saved the penalty on To’oTo’o.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes warms up before an AFC divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
“Come on,” the Dallas Cowboys great said. “I mean, he’s a runner. I can’t disagree with that one more time. He’s barely being hit. That’s the second penalty called against the Texans now…
“They have to address that in the offseason. You can’t, as a running back, run around and make plays 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 Texas staff also spoke about it after the game.
“We knew going into this game that we were up against everybody,” Houghton head coach DeMeco Ryans said. via KPRC-TV. “When I say everyone, it’s everyone. Everyone who… Those who doubt, doubt the right. Everyone that we had to go against today. Knowing that we go into this game, knowing what we faced, we can’t make any mistakes that we made.”
Anderson said the team knew it would be “us against the refs.”
Texas running back Joe Mixon was also angry.
“Everybody knows what it’s like, playing up here, you can never leave it up to the refs,” Mixon said. “But I think the whole world sees what it is, brother. That’s right.”
Houston Texans wide receiver Jon Weeks sits on the bench during the AFC Divisional Round game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Referee Clay Martin explained the calls to a pool reporter after the game.
He said the call on Anderson was the result of “a violent contact with the mask area,” which warranted a penalty flag. He said there was forced contact with Mahomes’ “top” on another unnecessary roughness.
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The Chiefs were able to keep Texas quarterback CJ Stroud at bay the entire game. The Chiefs sacked Stroud eight times, including three by George Karlaftis.
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