NFL fans had intense reactions following the Kansas City Chiefs' 27-19 win over the Houston Texans on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. The game, which saw the Chiefs pull off the victory, was marred by controversial referee decisions that left many fans questioning the fairness of the calls.
Leading into the game, many fans were already speculating about the status of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who had suffered a mild high-ankle sprain in Week 15 during a 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Despite the injury usually requiring weeks of recovery, Mahomes recovered quickly and was a full participant in all three of the Chiefs' light practices leading up to the game. His performance on Saturday included a 15-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, which led some fans to believe that Mahomes may have downplayed the severity of his injury.
Controversial Referee Decisions in the Chiefs' Favor
The officiating during the game sparked even more outrage among fans. One of the most talked-about moments occurred when a fumble returned for a touchdown by the Texans was overturned due to a roughing the passer penalty. Many fans were upset by this decision, with some questioning whether it was a legitimate call.
Rate the Refs App shared a video of the play, highlighting the penalty and its impact on the game. The video showed a Texans player hitting Mahomes as he threw the ball, resulting in the fumble, which was then returned for a touchdown, only to be nullified by the penalty.
Fans continued to express their frustration as the Chiefs benefited from other controversial calls, including a few holding and pass interference penalties against the Texans. One penalty, a pass interference call, was referred to by Fixed Refs as a "phantom" call, which stirred even more debate.
Fans Accuse the NFL of Rigging Games for the Chiefs
As the controversial calls continued, NFL fans on social media began to speculate that the league was rigging games in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs. Several fans claimed that while minor penalties were called against the Chiefs, more critical penalties seemed to go against their opponents.
One fan wrote, “The refs are smart. They’ll call tiny penalties on KC that don’t really mean anything like a hold on special teams. But will call important penalties against their opponent. At the end of the game, the penalties will be even, but anyone that actually watches the game knows what’s up.”
Another fan commented, “The Chiefs are ruining football. There is no way you can watch this and not believe it’s rigged.”
Other fans expressed similar frustrations, with one suggesting, “Every single Chiefs game feels rigged this year. So many stupid flags every game.”
A fan wrote, “Anyone that doesn’t think the NFL is rigging every Chiefs game is so delusional it’s not even funny.”
Is the NFL Rigging Games for the Chiefs?
Some fans even went so far as to suggest that the NFL was profiting from rigging games, with one asking, “How much is the NFL making off rigging so many games? NFL commissioner, this has been bad for the last 10 years. Chiefs reached on a new level. Perhaps you just admit NFL is like Pro Wrestling.”
The reactions from fans were filled with frustration, and many are questioning the integrity of the NFL’s officiating in Chiefs games. The controversial calls have stirred up heated debate among NFL fans, with many feeling that the league is favoring Kansas City in a way that undermines the fairness of the game.