NFL fans were livid after noticing a discrepancy in penalty calls between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs, and even an unusual live TV moment before Andy Reid called a timeout.
The Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans 27-19 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead on Saturday.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes talks with head coach Andy Reid during the Week 16 game against the Houston Texans[/caption]
NFL fans noticed a second quarter live TV moment in which a ball boy appeared to alert the referee that Reid was attempting to call a timeout[/caption]
During the second quarter of the Week 16 game, the Chiefs appeared to receive help from a ball boy while they were down 10-7.
Reid attempted to call a timeout and couldn’t get the attention of the ref.
Fortunately for Kansas City, a ball boy got the ref’s attention and pointed toward Reid, appearing to relay the three-time Super Bowl champion head coach’s message.
The ref then granted the Chiefs the timeout.
Fans took issue with the controversial sequence on live television.
“Ball boy cannot assist or notify the refs when a team is attempting to call a time out. It’s insane the ref didn’t call a flag on the Cheifs for that……… Oh wait,” one joked.
“How the f**k do they keep getting away with this,” another wrote.
And social media users weren’t done bashing the NFL during the game.
The Chiefs were called for only two penalties and 20 penalty yards, compared to six penalties and 45 penalty yards going against the Texans.
As a result, NFL fans believed that the league was “rigged” to help Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
“The NFL is so rigged no one thinks the Chiefs are good. Everyone knows the refs are why they are 14-1,” one commented.
“I refuse to watch Chiefs games. Rigged. NFL wants to make Mahomes the greatest ever,” another wrote.
The Chiefs’ victory pushed the team to a 14-1 record with two games left in the regular season.
Mahomes threw for 260 yards and had a passing and rushing touchdown apiece, appearing to not be phased by his ailing ankle.
A Chiefs win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day would secure the No. 1 seed, giving them a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
If they lose in Week 17, Kansas City can still earn the top seed with a win over the Denver Broncos in a regular-season finale game.
As for the Texans, they are 9-6 and sit atop the AFC South.
They will also play on Christmas Day on Wednesday, hosting the Baltimore Ravens.
The official halted play and granted Reid’s timeout[/caption]
Mahomes looks on after the Chiefs’ 27-19 win over the Houston Texans[/caption]
