The Kansas City Chiefs have become one of the most hated teams in the NFL over the past seven years. This is a result of Kansas City being in the AFC Championship and Super Bowl every season. With this hatred comes accusations that referees rig games in the Chiefs' favor with penalties.
Although NFL fans cry about this every week, it was especially bad after last week's Divisional Round matchup against the Houston Texans. Thus, reporters felt it was necessary to ask star quarterback Patrick Mahomes if he felt referees gave him and the Chiefs "friendly whistles."
Mahomes said, "I don't feel that way. . . For me, it's go out there, play hard. Do whatever I can to win the football game. And live with the results based on what I can do," according to Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on the accusation of getting "friendly whistle" from referees: "I don't feel that way. . . For me, it's go out there, play hard. Do whatever I can to win the football game. And live with the results based on what I can do."
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) January 22, 2025
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There are two major penalties that fans were complaining about from that Texans game. The first penalty in question happened on a Mahomes scramble where the defender made contact with his head and neck area on a slide.
Even though many NFL fans, even broadcaster Troy Aikman, consider this a weak call, Mahomes was giving himself up, and you can't contact a quarterback when they are doing that.
Henry To’oTo’o was called for a penalty after this hit on Patrick Mahomes. #HOUvsKC | ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/w4E4cSI3FF
— ESPN (@espn) January 18, 2025
The other penalty fans didn't like was a late hit that was called thanks to a clear flop. Even Chiefs fans can clearly tell Mahomes flopped and acted on this play to draw a flag. However, if refs are going to give quarterback special treatment on those types of plays, then the smart thing to do is try and draw a flag.
Mahomes is such a fucking loser for this flop job but the ref staring right at it has to lose his job for the complicity here. pic.twitter.com/2MITHuLfxc
— Kelley (@KelleyAnneMac) January 19, 2025
At the end of the day, every team benefits from good and bad penalty calls. So, even if some fans feel like Mahomes and the Chiefs have the referees in their corner, they really don't. It's just how the cookie crumbles sometimes.