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3 Instances When the Refs Favored Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Against the Broncos

Samnur Reza
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Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) talks with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

It all came down to field goal when the Broncos took on the Chiefs. The ball was spotted just 35 yards from the goalpost and, if successful, could have been the game-sealing score for Denver. Unfortunately, Wil Lutz’s kick was blocked by the Chiefs with no time left on the clock. However, it turns out that the losing team could have gained an advantage much earlier in the game, possibly even winning, if not for missed referee calls.

MLFootball on X (formerly Twitter) posted a thread with three posts about potential missed calls during last Sunday’s game. After reviewing these clips, fans have been buzzing that all these calls went in favor of the defending champs, and you might change your perspective too. If you haven’t already.

Missed holding penalty and illegal man downfield

One of the many botched calls that caught internet sleuths’ attention is a possible holding penalty and illegal man downfield on a third play. However, much to the fans’ dismay, the referee declared, “There was no foul on the play for ineligible downfield.”

What makes the situation even worse is that right after this “missed call,” Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce for a two-yard touchdown. One could very well argue that this missed call was the turning point of the game. And the clips and snapshots circulating online are quite compelling, and they truly show the brutality of the hit.

Illegal hands to the face penalty

In a third down play, QB Mahomes was sacked by a Broncos defender, but the referees decided to slap the Broncos with “illegal hands to the face.” This could have certainly been a game-changing sack.

MLFootball argues that the sack occurred so quickly that it would have been impossible for the Broncos to have committed a penalty.

An “obvious” holding call

This ‘missed’ penalty occurred just before the Chiefs scored their first and only touchdown of the game. Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was nearly crushed by OL Kingsley Suamataia, yet no flags were thrown on the field.

Debates about whether the Chiefs benefit from officiating calls will rage on. But one cannot downplay the fact that these accusations are becoming more frequent.

What do you think? Do the Chiefs get favorable calls? Let us know in the comments.

About the author

Samnur Reza

Samnur Reza

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Samnur Reza is an NFL editor for The SportsRush. He holds a degree in English Honors and joined The SportsRush editorial team in 2023. Having previously worked as a freelancer and several media outlets, Samnur has been religiously following the National Football League for the past six and a half years. Samnur first started following football after Tom Brady's cameo in Ted 2. It wasn’t long before he found himself grabbing a bucket of popcorn to enjoy football games. He still vividly remembers his first-ever fixture: a 2011 matchup between the Patriots and Raiders, where Brady led his team to a 31-19 victory. Even so, Samnur believes Brady’s best performance came against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, a game he still revisits from time to time. Samnur diligently follows most NFL athletes, their family members, and even the NCAA. Thus, he considers himself a diverse writer, having covered almost every corner of the football world. He does, however, have a special interest in athlete-centric stories. Whenever they engage in off-field ventures or charitable activities, Samnur enjoys reading and writing about them. Samnur had already authored over 850 NFL-based articles before becoming an editor. His editorial journey began just a little over a year ago. Beyond football, Samnur is a true cinephile with an extensive repertoire of films. He’s also fond of cats and has a furry friend named ‘Eva.’ During his free time, Samnur enjoys playing video games, currently immersed in God of War: Ragnarök. Having recently learned how to ride a bike, he now wishes to travel almost everywhere on it.

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