The referees in the Kansas City Chiefs’ AFC divisional round win over the Houston Texans on Saturday night came under scrutiny for questionable calls throughout the game.
From ESPN host Troy Aikman to Texans players after the game to social media, officials lit up from all angles.
There were two penalties imposed on the Texans that sparked anger.
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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tries to avoid Houston Texans defensive ends Will Anderson Jr., left, and Denico Autry during the AFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Houston running back Will Anderson Jr. was flagged for roughing the passer on a third down in the first quarter. Anderson appeared to shove Mahomes in the chest after he threw the incomplete ball to tight end Travis Kelce. Anderson was singled out.
The second penalty came during a Mahomes scramble in the third quarter. He had two blockers running and three defenders closing in on him. He moved to the right and then to the left when he decided to slide.
Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o hit Mahomes in the neck while he was sliding. Despite the bang-bang nature of the work, To’oTo’o was criticized for unnecessary crudeness.
The first penalty lengthened the march and ended in a field goal. The second penalty pushed Kansas City onto the field and the drive ended with a touchdown.
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The Chiefs won the game, 23-14.
Aikman took the penalty from To’oTo’o.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes warms up before the AFC divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
“Oh, come on,” the Dallas Cowboys great said. “I mean, he’s a running back. I couldn’t disagree with that more. He barely gets hit. That’s the second penalty called against the Texans…
“They have to address it in the offseason. As a quarterback, you can’t run and play with defenders and then be able to take a penalty.”
He wasn’t the only one who thought officials made a mistake.
The Texans staff also talked about it after the game.
“We knew coming into this game it was us against everyone,” Houton head coach DeMeco Ryans said, via KPRC-TV. “When I say everyone, it’s everyone. Whatever… The naysayers, the doubt is right. We had to face everyone today. Knowing that coming into this game, knowing what we’re facing, we can’t make mistakes .what we did.”
Anderson said the team knew it was going to be “us against the refs.”
Texans running back Joe Mixon was also upset.
“Everyone knows what it’s like to play here, you can never leave it up to the referees,” Mixon said. “But I mean everyone sees what it is, brother. It is what it is.”
Houston Texans long snapper 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)
Head referee Clay Martin explained the calls to a pool reporter after the game.
He said the call on Anderson was the result of “forced contact with the mask area,” which justified the penalty flag. He said there was forced contact with Mahomes’ “hairline” on the other unnecessary roughness call.
The Chiefs were able to keep Texans quarterback CJ Stroud at bay throughout the game. The Chiefs sacked Stroud eight times, including three by George Karlaftis.
