Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes has not had the season anyone envisioned and now could be in some hot water with the league offices. An uncharacteristically emotional outburst from Patrick Mahomes who NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says could spell trouble for the Chiefs’ quarterback.
“While Patrick Mahomes’ post-game comments will be reviewed, his on-field yelling aimed at the refs before the game ended and then on-field comments while cameras were rolling and present may be more of an issue,” Rapoport posted on X on December 11.
Patrick Mahomes’ On-Field Outburst Potentially ‘More of an Issue’ Than Postgame Comments, Insider Says
Chiefs’ Loss Leads to Controversy
Patrick Mahomes was NOT happy on the sideline pic.twitter.com/kFdVMF7PrM
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) December 11, 2023
Mahomes and the Chiefs lost to the Buffalo Bills 20-17. But the game was still up for grabs in the waning minutes.
Until it wasn’t.
Mahomes dropped back to pass and found tight end Travis Kelce who then turned to find wide receiver Kadarius Toney on a lateral. Toney would take it in for a touchdown but the play was called back. The third-year wide receiver had lined up offsides, negating what would have been the go-ahead touchdown – there was still more than 1:30 on the clock for Buffalo.
Mahomes voiced his displeasure with the call after the game.
Patrick Mahomes: Offsides Call ‘Tough to Swallow’
“It’s, I mean, obviously, tough to swallow,” Mahomes said. I mean not only for me. But just for football in general. I mean just to take away greatness like that. I mean for a guy like Travis to make a play like that, and who knows if we win. But I know as fans you want to see the guys on the field decide the game.”
Officiating has been a subject of consternation among players and fans alike for as long as their paths have crossed.
“That’s why last week I didn’t say anything about the flag they didn’t get called on the Marquez [Valdes-Scantling],” Mahomes said. “And so I mean they’re human, man. They make mistakes. But I mean I’m – it’s every week we’re talking about something.”
Valdes-Scantling was the apparent victim of pass interference versus the Green Bay Packers in Week 13. But there was no call in a game that featured a list of questionable calls.
Do you think this was pass interference? #Chiefs #Packers #NFL pic.twitter.com/tF4CRZFDRj
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) December 4, 2023
“All I can do is go out there and give everything I have,” Mahomes said. “And I’m proud of the guys. That’s what we did, and it was a great football game that ended, another great football game that just ended like that it’s just tough to swallow.”
Asked what exactly frustrated him, Mahomes delved into why the call bothered him.
Patrick Mahomes ‘Lost for Words’ Over Offsides Call
“It’s the call, man. Just in that moment,” Mahomes said. “It’s not even for me. It’s just I know how much everybody puts into this game. And for it to happen on a flag, change the outcome of a game in that moment. I mean I’ve played seven years. Never had that. Never had offense offside get called.
“I mean that’s elementary school. We talk about … you point to the ref, do all that different type of stuff, and it doesn’t get called. And if it does, they warn you, and there was no warning throughout the entire game. And then you wait till there’s a minute left in the game to make a call like that. It’s tough, man.”
Patrick Mahomes was still upset about the offside call meeting with Josh Allen after the game. #Billsmafia pic.twitter.com/6TYGJ1xnS9
— Thad Brown (@thadbrown7) December 11, 2023
“I mean, lost for words, man,” Mahomes continued. “It’s just it’s tough because, regardless if we win or lose, man, just for at the end with another game and we’re talking about the refs, man. It’s just not what we want for the NFL, and for football.”
Mahomes said he got no explanation from any of the game officials.
“None,” the frustrated quarterback said. “None from any one of three different refs. No one said anything.”
