Did Patrick Mahomes just admit to flopping? Chiefs QB breaks silence on NFL favoritism scandal

Patrick Mahomes isn’t shying away from the allegations of favoritism. The Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback addressed claims that his team has benefited from lenient officiating, particularly during their divisional-round win against the Texans.


The Chiefs’ 23-14 win over the Texans raised eyebrows after two critical penalties led to ten points for Kansas City. One of the most talked-about moments was Will Anderson Jr.'s hit on Mahomes that nullified a third-down incompletion. Anderson made slight contact with Mahomes’ helmet after the ball was released, resulting in a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty. NFL Senior VP of Officiating Walt Anderson later explained, “if any contact is made with the head, referees are ‘probably’ going to throw a flag.”
Another questionable call came during a critical fourth-quarter moment. The Texans appeared to sack Mahomes at his 30-yard line, but the referees flagged Houston for unnecessary roughness. The penalty erased the sack, and the Chiefs capitalized with a Travis Kelce touchdown, extending their lead. On the broadcast, Troy Aikman criticized the call, saying, “Oh, come on — I mean, he’s a runner. I could not disagree with that one more.” ESPN’s Russell York agreed, saying it should not have been penalized.


Mahomes downplayed the controversy, choosing to focus on the broader picture. Speaking to 96.5 The Fan, he said, “I‘ve kind of learned that no matter what happens during the game, that something’s going to come out about it if you win and you continue to win, so I don’t really pay attention to it.” He acknowledged being on both sides of questionable calls but defended the referees, stating, “At the end of the day, man, those guys are doing their best to make the best calls.”
Regarding the accusations of flopping, Mahomes admitted fault for a sideline play where he exaggerated contact but didn’t draw a flag. “I would say that the only one I felt like I probably did too much was the one on the sideline… I probably shouldn’t have done that.”


Houston players were vocal about their frustration. Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said, “We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game,” reflecting a sentiment shared by many fans. The Texans believed the officiating directly impacted key moments of the game, but Mahomes countered that the Chiefs’ performance, not the flags, determined the outcome.
Despite the ongoing criticism, Mahomes remains focused. Kansas City will host the Bills in the AFC Championship, looking to secure their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. As a slight favorite against Josh Allen and the Bills, the Chiefs will aim to prove their dominance, controversy or not.
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