NFL officials came under intense scrutiny for some of the flags thrown during four divisional round games between the Chiefs, Bills, Eagles and Commanders to advance to next weekend's conference championships.
But if the NFL decides to work with the NBA and NHL to seriously crack down on floppers, as ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman suggested during the Texans-Chiefs game, this could be the most serious no-call. A game that was one play that didn't draw a flag that could have been.
NFL players can be penalized for major “unsportsmanlike conduct” violations, but there are no official rules against flopping, and Aikman has been accused of several conversations with Joe Buck over Chiefs officiating. One of them urged the league to address the issue. Won 23-14.
On the same possession that benefited from a sliding late in the game where two Texans players collided with each other and drew an unnecessary roughness flag that was panned wide, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was called out by referee Clay Martin. Kansas City's momentum, which appeared to be trying to get the staff to throw another flag for help, ended with a touchdown, giving the Chiefs an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Mahomes scrambled to his left and pulled up just as he was out of bounds. Mahomes dramatically threw himself to the ground when linebacker Henry Tootoo tapped him, but that didn't fool the officials. Or, he failed to impress Aikman, the Hall of Fame quarterback who was furious over his decision to rough the passer against Houston.
“He's trying to score a penalty. He's slowing down instead of just running over the limit,” Aikman protested. “That was the frustration, I get it. I get it. That was the frustration for defensive players around the league.”
Even Mahomes acknowledged in a radio interview with 96.5 The Fan on Wednesday that the play may have gone too far.
At the beginning of the drive, Aikman said he “disagreed” with the roughing penalty that was called when Tootoo and defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi crashed into each other and made accidental contact with Mahomes on the bottom at the end of the play. . slide.
When Martin announced the penalty, Aikman interjected, “Oh, come on!”
“He's a runner.'' Aikman pointed out that Mahomes shouldn't have been given the extra protection that is given to quarterbacks who get into the pocket after Mahomes starts the play. The second (questionable) penalty…it was a late flag and it was Clay Martin who threw it.
“They have to deal with it in the offseason,” Aikman added.
ESPN rules analyst Russell Yuke agreed that the flag should not have been thrown during the play.
After the game, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans suggested the team expects the Chiefs to benefit from officiating. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. ”
Yurk also agreed that Texans pass rusher Will Anderson Jr.'s roughing-the-passer flag in the first quarter erased Kansas City's three-and-out and resulted in a field goal on that drive. There wasn't. Like the first contact was in the upper chest. “I didn't see anything that would support a foul,” Yuruk said.
Referee Martin told pool reporters after the game that Anderson's penalty was “forcible contact on the facemask area,” and as for Too Too'o's foul when the quarterback slid, “he was considered defenseless.” he said. The onus is on the defender. I was forced to touch my hairline and even my helmet. ”
Walt Anderson, the NFL's longtime senior vice president of officiating who moved into a new role last year as the league's rules analyst and club spokesperson, said Sunday that both decisions are correct under current rules.
Anderson appeared on NFL Network on Sunday and said it may be debatable whether there was forced contact for roughing the passer flag in the first quarter, but the league's rulebook states that officials must He emphasized that he is asking for a pitcher. If you are in doubt whether vandalism has occurred.
As for the second foul on Mahomes for a late slide, the two colliding Texans defenders made accidental contact just as Mahomes fell to the ground, so replay assist was used in that situation to pick up the flag. Anderson said he couldn't. .
Anderson noted that the league's competition committee will review either violation this offseason and may tweak the rules.
Aikman similarly wants the league to crack down on flopping.
