Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star quarterback, recently faced criticism during a playoff game against the Houston Texans. Three-time Super Bowl champion Troy Aikman criticized Mahomes for what he called “flopping” to draw a penalty. This happened during a tense fourth quarter when Mahomes appeared to exaggerate his fall after a tackle attempt, frustrating fans and players alike.
Aikman pointed out that instead of running out of bounds, Mahomes slowed down, which he believed was a tactic to earn a penalty. This stirred controversy, especially since the Texans had been penalized earlier for roughness, leading many to feel the calls were inconsistent. On social media, fans expressed their anger over such antics, viewing them as unfair to the defensive players.
Meanwhile, Mahomes had already benefitted from earlier penalty calls that helped the Chiefs score points. He found himself at the center of another debatable play when Texans’ players Henry To’oTo’o and Folorunso Fatukasi were penalized for a hit on him. Aikman disagreed with the penalty, arguing Mahomes had become a “runner” at that moment, which should exempt him from quarterback protections. ESPN’s rules expert, Russell Yurk, added that the hit seemed accidental, occurring as players collided. This ruling allowed the Chiefs to score a touchdown, pushing their lead to 20-12.
Earlier in the game, Texans’ defensive end Will Anderson Jr. also felt wronged after being flagged for roughing the passer, expressing his belief that the game was somehow rigged against them. Commentators noted that there were several questionable calls affecting the Texans, which only added to the frustration.
While players can be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct in the NFL, there is no specific rule against diving or flopping. This raised a call for rule changes. Aikman emphasized that the NFL needs to address this issue in the offseason to prevent further controversies.
Ultimately, the Chiefs won the game 23-14, advancing to the AFC Championship where they will face either the Buffalo Bills or the Baltimore Ravens. With two Super Bowl wins already under their belt, the Chiefs are aiming for a third consecutive title, while Mahomes aims to capture his fourth championship.
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