Patrick Mahomes has dismissed claims that the Kansas City Chiefs are getting favourable decisions from referees as they bid to win a historic third straight Super Bowl.
The Houston Texans were controversially penalised for two hits on Mahomes during last week’s 23-14 defeat to Kansas City in the Divisional Round.
Will Anderson Jr was flagged for roughing the passer to extend a first-quarter drive ending in a Harrison Butker field goal, before Henry To’oTo’o was harshly punished for unnecessary roughness on a scrambling Mahomes later in the game.
It provoked a frustrated reaction from defensive end Anderson Jr, who said post-game he “knew it was going to be us versus the refs.”
“I don’t feel that way,” Mahomes said in response to reporters on Wednesday. “I just try to play football at the end of the day. The referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and proper as they can.
“For me, it’s go out there, play hard, try to do whatever I can to win the football game, and then live with the results based on my effort and how I play the game, and that’s what we preach here in Kansas City.
“You get new referees every year. You get new circumstances, and you never can really tell because every play is different, and that’s what makes the NFL so special. I feel like I just continue to play the game. I just try to win.”
Playoff Allen vs. Mahomes Round 4 coming 🔜
📺: #BUFvsKC – Sunday 6:30pm ET on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/uYcAU0DvGH— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2025
