The NFL finds Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ protests about officiating disgraceful

The NFL looks awful as a result of Kansas City’s complaints since officiating is once more emphasized above a team’s internal issues.

It’s no secret that the 2023 season for the Kansas City Chiefs hasn’t been all sunshine and flowers. Generally speaking, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes have done a fantastic job at stifling their frustrations and highlighting the talent of their much-maligned receiving corps in order to keep the club moving forward.

That was the case until Sunday afternoon, when a touchdown pass from Travis Kelce to Kardarius Toney was nullified by an offensive offside call on Toney. The flag can be seen flying shortly after Chiefs center Creed Humphrey snapped the ball:

The straw that not only broke the camel’s back, but also appeared to splatter it into millions of pieces around the Arrowhead gridiron.

Andy Reid slammed the officiating crew’s audacity in making the offensive offside decision in his postgame news conference, calling it “a bit embarrassing for the National Football League for that to take place.” He couldn’t be more mistaken. If he wants to see what truly embarrasses the NFL, he should look in the mirror and at his quarterback.

Patrick Mahomes’ actions were humiliating to the NFL

You’ve probably seen the tornado-like commotion Mahomes created on the Kansas City sideline after his three consecutive incompletions after the penalty resulted in a fumble on downs. Even during the CBS broadcast of the game.

The need to vent on times is understandable. It is a natural and even good thing for people to do when they are going through a difficult time. But this is a little overboard. If a youngster were acting like this, you’d see their parents doing everything they could to keep them quiet while also seeing their cheeks flush and eyes dart about the room, determining how many people are taking in the unfolding tantrum.

Reid, Mahomes’ de facto “parent” in this situation, not only did nothing to reflect the above sentiment, but also allowed him to continue whining about the play on the field and in his own postgame press conference, where he attempted to pass off the call as an atrocity to “fans of football in general.”

His acts expose both he and Reid to be entitled and hypocritical. Reid’s previous remark to receiving warnings on similar penalties, which he expanded on Monday, contributed to supporters’ widely held belief that refereeing has consistently favored Kansas City during Mahomes’ tenure.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the league will most likely investigate Reid’s and Mahomes’ remarks.

The officials got the call correct

The media’s reaction to the duo’s behavior has been overwhelmingly negative, with big industry personalities taking an unusual stance on major plays and protecting the officials involved. This is because the call was, without a doubt, correct.

Former NFL officials turned rules analysts Gene Steratore and Terry McAuley both weighed in on the play, with McAuley’s coming at halftime of Sunday Night Football’s Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys game.

The combination of greater focus on these penalties being enforced, as well as the apparent absurdity of Toney’s infringement, made it a simple and quick call, which is why the flag was thrown barely minutes after the ball was snapped. The officials had no idea what would happen next, making Mahomes’ and Reid’s postgame statements even less relevant.

Chiefs’ reactions are a reflection of the state of their offense

It is unusual to see Mahomes or Reid respond in such a rash manner as they did on Sunday evening. Their anger boiling over isn’t surprising given how bad their offensive has been this year. This season, the Chiefs are averaging only 22.5 points per game, one touchdown less than their previous low.

The New York Times gives Kansas City excellent odds of making the playoffs (98%) and winning the AFC West (91%), but the picture beyond the regular season is much more concerning. The Chiefs have the third-best odds (11%) to win the AFC’s No. 1 seed and go to the Super Bowl (8%), after only the Baltimore Ravens (45% No. 1 seed, 13% Super Bowl) and Miami Dolphins (41% No. 1 seed, 13% Super Bowl).

In order for Kansas City to defend its title, Mahomes will almost certainly have to travel for the first time in his playoff career. The offense is currently not in shape to regularly deliver against a slew of 7-6 teams on the cusp of the postseason picture, let alone the conference’s elite teams. Reid and Mahomes’ wrath and frustration must be directed within if they are to be directed at anyone. They will be unable to resolve their issues and make a deep postseason run unless they do so.

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *