Video: NFL Senior VP of Officiating Talks Encourages Texans’ Hits on Patrick Mahomes | News, results, highlights, stats and rumours

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KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 15: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks in as referees discuss a pass interference call on 4th and 16 late in the fourth quarter of an NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs in September 15, 2024 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Officiating was a key talking point coming out of Saturday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans, particularly regarding roughing the passer and unnecessary roughness penalties assessed against the visitors when they pursued Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

NFL senior vice president of officiating Walt Anderson appeared NFL GameDay and discussed these two calls in particular. Ultimately, he suggested the officials got the calls right.

Tom Pelissero @Tom Pelissero

NFL Senior VP of Officiating Walt Anderson appeared @NFLGameDay with a detailed explanation of the controversial flags thrown Saturday for hits on #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.
Short version, according to Anderson: According to the rules, officials got both calls right. pic.twitter.com/64KASl2VuD

“If there’s contact to the head of the quarterback, it’s probably going to be called by the officials,” Anderson said of roughing the passer flag. “…On this play, there was contact. … There is one place in the rulebook that by rule it says that when in doubt, officials must call roughing the passer.”

The second call came when two Texans defenders appeared to hit each other much harder than Mahomes when the quarterback slipped, but Houston was whistled for unnecessary roughness.

“When No. 39 comes in and the hairline of his helmet hits the helmet of the runner who’s already on the ground, that’s a foul,” Anderson said. “While replay assist could help with that, when there’s contact like that, it won’t be changed.”

Both were penalties as the Chiefs ended up with a field goal on the drive that was extended by roughing the passer on Will Anderson Jr. and a touchdown on the drive that included the unnecessary roughness flag.

Some of Houston’s key players did not hesitate to call the referee out after the game.

“Everybody knows how it plays up here,” running back Joe Mixon told reporters. “You can never leave it in the hands of the refs. It is what it is. When it comes down to it, you can never leave it in the hands of the refs.”

Regarding Anderson, he said: “We knew it was going to be us against the refs going into this fight. I talked to you guys earlier in the week. I just said, I’m like man, we have to go out and we have to make us better. In some cases we didn’t, in some cases we’ve just got to keep putting guys together and just keep building team chemistry and get over this hump.”

Quarterback CJ Stroud also discussed the officiating:

Will Kunkel @WillKunkelFOX

Texans QB CJ Stroud was asked about officiating vs the Chiefs:
“One of those things you know what’s going to happen before you walk into the arena.”
“I can’t argue with the referee and play football at the same time. I have to go out and do my job.” pic.twitter.com/HBtrUIlO5Y

While Houston was undoubtedly frustrated by the calls, that’s not why it lost.

The offensive line was invisible for extended periods as the Chiefs sacked Stroud eight times. Several promising drives were cut short by sacks as the Texans quarterback had little time to throw throughout the game.

What’s more, Houston’s special teams were terrible.

Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed two field goals – one of which was blocked – and an extra point. The kickoff coverage team also allowed a long return to start the game that set up a field goal, and Kansas City’s final field goal came on a short field after a bad punt.

The Chiefs are trying to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls, and any close call that favors them will attract additional attention as other fan bases grow more frustrated with their consistent winning streak.

Still, the Texans didn’t make enough plays to escape a road game in Kansas City with a win.