The NFL stood by the officiating in the Chiefs’ 23-14 win over the Texans in their Divisional Round playoff game on Saturday.
NFL senior VP of officiating Walt Anderson addressed multiple penalties against the Texans for unnecessary roughness and roughing the passer on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes following uproar over the officiating, including frustration from ESPN analyst Troy Aikman in the booth.
During an appearance on “NFL GameDay” on Sunday morning, Anderson first explained a roughing the passer call in the first quarter when Mahomes was tackled by Houston defensive end Will Anderson Jr. after releasing the ball during the third-down play.
That penalty awarded Kansas City 15 yards and a first down on a drive that resulted in a field goal.
Anderson said Mahomes’ head moved slightly on the tackle, indicating contact to his helmet.
“If there’s contact to the head of the quarterback, that’s probably going to be called by the officials,” Anderson said, according to Yahoo Sports.
He explained that replay assist can only be used if there is no contact to the player’s helmet — therefore in this case, they couldn’t use replay assist to determine if it was forcible.
“You can end up having to debate about whether you felt it was forcible or not, and that’s going to be one of those conversations for the competition committee to consider next [season],” he said.
Anderson added that referees are instructed to call the roughing the passer penalty “when in doubt” and that officials are “gonna protect the quarterbacks.”
NFL rules analyst Russell Yurk said he didn’t see anything that supported a foul while on the ESPN broadcast during the game.
Anderson went on to explain another unnecessary roughness call against Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o in the third quarter, when Mahomes slid late and two Texans defenders collided over him.
“Whether it seems like it or not, officials have to call it based on what they see,” Anderson said, adding that To’oTo’o’s helmet appeared to slightly touch the top of Mahomes’ helmet while he was already on the ground.
“Even if replay assist could help in that, when there’s contact like that, that’s not gonna be changed,” Anderson said.
Anderson explained that the NFL isn’t striving for perfection.
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“This is one of those areas that is also going to be debated, in terms of what’s forcible, what’s not,” he said. “But the game is not ever going to be perfect, and one thing we don’t want to do is let perfect be the enemy of good. … In those areas that are gray, and may be debatable, we have to leave those on the field.”
Aikman was frustrated as he disagreed with the unnecessary roughness call in the third quarter.
“Ah, come on,” Aikman said on the broadcast. “… He’s a runner and I could not disagree with that one more and [Mahomes] barely gets hit. That’s the second penalty now that’s been called against the Texans.”
Yurk, who was on the broadcast just after the penalty call, said he agreed with Aikman.
“There is not forcible contact to the head, neck area of [Mahomes]. The two Houston players hit each other. That should not have been a foul,” Yurk said.
The officiating, especially during Chiefs games, has been a hot topic this season — with many insisting the two-time defending champs are benefitting from favorable calls.
The NFL said it will consider expanding replay assist.
The Chiefs host the Bills in the AFC Championship game on Sunday.