\
AFTER starting the season 3-0, fans are convinced Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are getting a helping hand from the refs.
The Chiefs were the benefactors of some borderline penalties in Week 2 and 3 of the season, and fans are already fed up with the treatment they’re getting.
3
3
To make matters worse, Mahomes was spotted in a pregame picture having a conversation with one of the referees on Sunday.
This isn’t an entirely uncommon practice, as many players chat with the referees before games to get an understanding of how certain things will get called, or just to catch up with the refs.
A lot of NFL players and officials are familiar with each other after playing in so many games together, so it isn’t unrealistic for them to say hello before the game.
NFL fans had more malicious thoughts about the interaction between Mahomes and the ref though, and shared their thoughts on social media.
“Ready to cheat like always,” one fan said.
“Dude slipped him a 20 lmao,” another fan said.
“I don’t even think Tom Brady got this treatment,” a third fan said.
“Another rigged game incoming,” a fourth fan said.
“Bad look for the nfl here,” a fifth fan said.
The Chiefs have already produced a plethora of controversial officiating moments through just three weeks of the NFL season.
They started in Week 1, when officials granted the Chiefs a timeout that shouldn’t have counted.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo ran down the sideline to call a timeout with nine seconds left in the second quarter, and the stoppage was granted.
The thing is, assistant coaches are prohibited from calling timeouts. Only the head coach, which was Andy Reid, is allowed to call the timeout in that situation.
In Week 2, the Chiefs followed up their officiating assists with a game-winning pass interference call.
While trailing 25-23 against the Bengals and facing fourth-and-16, Mahomes heaved up a pass to wide receiver Rashee Rice that ultimately fell incomplete.
The flags came raining in after the pass was broken up though, and the refs awarded a pass interference call that allowed the Chiefs to kick the game-winning field goal at the last second.
NFL important dates
August 1 – Hall of Fame Game – Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears
August 8 – Pre-season begins
August 27 – Deadline for 53-man rosters
September 1 – Final day of pre-season
September 5 – Season opener – Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs
November 5 – Trade deadline
January 5 – Week 18 of regular-season
January 11 – Playoffs begin
February 9 – Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana
Week 3 saw the Chiefs become the benefactor of a no-call in their Sunday Night Football matchup against the Falcons.
The Falcons trailed the Chiefs 17-22 with little time left when a pass from Kirk Cousins to Kyle Pitts was broken up.
Broadcaster Cris Collinsworth immediately pointed out how much contact there was, and that Pitts didn’t have an opportunity to make a play.
“That’s a lot of contact wasn’t it,” Collinsworth said.
“Heads not around and didn’t have a chance to make a play.”
A pass interference call would’ve given the Falcons a first-and-goal opportunity and a prime position to win the game.
Regardless of how the wins come through, the Chiefs are sitting at 3-0 and first in the league.
3
