NFL refs under fire over questionable calls in Chiefs' playoff win over Texans

Officials successful the Kansas City Chiefs AFC divisional circular triumph implicit the Houston Texans connected Saturday nighttime came nether scrutiny implicit questionable calls passim the game.

From ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman to Texans players aft the crippled to societal media, officials were getting lit up from each angles.

There were 2 penalties called connected the Texans that drew ire.

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Chiefs backmost Patrick Mahomes tries to debar Houston Texans antiaircraft ends Will Anderson Jr., left, and Denico Autry during the AFC divisional playoff crippled Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, successful Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Houston borderline rusher Will Anderson Jr. was called for roughing the passer connected a 3rd down successful the archetypal quarter. Anderson appeared to propulsion Mahomes successful the thorax aft helium had thrown the shot incomplete to choky extremity Travis Kelce. Anderson was flagged.

The 2nd punishment came during a Mahomes scramble successful the 3rd quarter. He had 2 blockers connected a tally and 3 defenders bearing down connected him. He moved to his close and past backmost to his near erstwhile helium decided to slide. 

Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o deed Mahomes astir the cervix arsenic helium slid. Despite the bang-bang quality of the play, To’oTo’o was called for unnecessary roughness.

The archetypal punishment extended the thrust and it ended with a tract goal. The 2nd punishment pushed Kansas City up the tract and the thrust ended with a touchdown.

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The Chiefs won the game, 23-14.

Aikman ripped the punishment connected To’oTo’o.

Chiefs backmost Patrick Mahomes warms up earlier the AFC divisional playoff crippled against the Houston Texans connected Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, successful Kansas City..  (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

"Oh, travel on," the Dallas Cowboys large said. "I mean, he’s a runner. I could not disagree with that 1 much He hardly gets hit. That’s the 2nd punishment present that’s been called against the Texans.… 

"They’ve gotta code it successful the offseason. You can’t, arsenic a quarterback, tally astir and play games with defenders and past beryllium capable to gully a penalty."

He was not the lone 1 who thought the officials made a mistake.

Texans unit spoke retired astir it aft the crippled arsenic well.

"We knew going into this crippled it was america versus everybody," Houton caput manager DeMeco Ryans said, via KPRC-TV. "When I accidental everybody, it’s everybody. All of the whatever… The naysayers, the uncertainty right. Everybody we had to spell against today. Knowing that going into this game, knowing what we were up against, we can’t marque the mistakes that we made."

Anderson said the squad knew it was going to beryllium "us versus the refs."

Texans moving backmost Joe Mixon was besides peeved.

"Everybody cognize however it is, playing up here, you tin ne'er permission it into the refs’ hands," Mixon said. "But I mean the full satellite spot what it is, bro. It is what it is."

Houston Texans agelong snapper Jon Weeks sits connected the seat during the AFC divisional circular crippled against the Kansas City Chiefs connected Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Head referee Clay Martin explained the calls to a excavation newsman aft the game.

He said the telephone connected Anderson was a effect from "forcible interaction to the look disguise area," which warranted the punishment flag. He said determination was forcible interaction to Mahomes’ "hairline" connected the different unnecessary roughness call.

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The Chiefs were capable to support Texans backmost C.J. Stroud astatine bay the full game. The Chiefs sacked Stroud 8 times, including 3 from George Karlaftis.

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