Officials in the Kansas City Chiefs AFC Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans on Saturday night were scrutinized over questionable calls throughout the game.
From ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman to Texans players after the game to social media, the officials were briefed from every angle.
There were two penalties called on the Texans who got angry.
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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tries to avoid Houston Texans defensive end 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 edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was called for roughing the passer on a third down in the first quarter. Anderson appeared to shove Mahomes in the chest after he threw the ball incomplete to tight end Travis Kelce. Anderson was flagged.
The second penalty came during a Mahomes scramble in the third quarter. He had two run blockers and three defenders bear down on him. He moved to the right and then back to the left as he decided to slide.
Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o hit Mahomes around the neck as he slipped. Despite the play’s bang-bang nature, To’oTo’o was called out for unnecessary roughness.
The first penalty extended the drive, and it ended in a field goal. The second penalty pushed Kansas City upfield, and the drive ended with a touchdown.
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The Chiefs won the game 23-14.
Aikman ripped the penalty on 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 runner. I couldn’t disagree with that one more. He barely gets hit. That’s the second penalty now that’s been handed down against the Texans…
“They’ve got to address that in the offseason. You can’t as a quarterback 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 made a mistake.
The Texans’ staff also talked about it after the game.
“We knew going into this game it was us versus everybody,” Houton head coach DeMeco Ryans said, via KPRC-TV. “When I say everybody, it’s everybody. Anything… The nos, the doubters right. Everybody we had to go up against today. Going into this game knowing what we were up against , we can’t make the mistakes we made.”
Anderson said the team knew it would be “us versus the refs.”
Texans running back Joe Mixon was also upset.
“Everybody knows what it’s like to play up here, you can never leave it in the hands of the refs,” Mixon said. “But I mean the whole world sees it for what it is, bro. 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)
Referee Clay Martin explained the calls to a pool reporter after the game.
He said the call on Anderson was a result of “forceful contact to the facemask area,” which warranted the penalty flag. He said there was forced contact with Mahomes’ “hairline” on the second unnecessary roughness call.
The Chiefs were able to keep Texans quarterback CJ Stroud at bay the entire game. The Chiefs sacked Stroud eight times, including three from George Karlaftis.
