Patrick Mahomes may be riding high with 11 wins in 12 games, but even the greats aren’t safe from criticism. During the 19-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, it wasn’t the score that stole the spotlight—it was Mahomes’s reaction to Crosby‘s hit.

Things got dramatic in the 4th quarter. Raiders’ defensive end Maxx Crosby blew past Kansas City’s offensive line, taking Mahomes down hard. To put things into perspective, Mahomes looked visibly disappointed after the tackle was not flagged as Zach Carter joined Crosby in the tackle.

Not just that, K’Lavon Chaisson blew past Wanya Morris and sacked Patrick Mahomes for a nine-yard loss on 3rd-and-goal from the 5-yard line. Chiefs had to settle for a field goal. However that gave them the lead at 19–17 with 9:35 remaining in the fourth quarter. Well, things weren’t easy for the star QB.

Mahomes, himself, had a dodgy outing. He passed for 306 yards and threw one touchdown but was sacked 5 times. The offense didn’t look perfect, but the number 15 still found ways to lead his team. “We have to find a way to build up to play great (as) a full, entire team,” Mahomes admitted after the game, reflecting on the Chiefs’ ongoing struggles with close finishes as they look to hit their peak form. However, Mahomes reaction to the tackle didn’t go well with fans.

Fans label Patrick Mahomes as ‘Cry Baby’

Social media erupted over Mahomes’s reaction to Crosby’s tackle. Vahe Gregorian of the Kansas City Star noted Mahomes’s “demonstrable” displeasure about the occurrence. The backlash on social media was soon to follow and it was harsh. @otto_tenet called him a “diva,” While @kaySkin34 added, “He cries every time they don’t get a stupid flag.”

@DirkDerekDAVEEE also criticized him, labeling him “such a baby.” These reactions highlight the increasing impatience with Mahomes’s on-field demeanor, despite his usual brilliance. On the other side of things, Crosby was relentless throughout the game. Registered multiple pressures and forced Mahomes to scramble repeatedly. Despite the loss, Crosby’s sportsmanship shone post-game. “Go get another one, brother,” he told Mahomes, referencing Kansas City’s Super Bowl pursuits. The Chiefs’ offensive line was already under fire and to make things worse, they allowed five sacks.

Coach Andy Reid didn’t hold back while criticizing the line’s failure to handle Crosby. “We were struggling at times,” he admitted. “It’s disruptive to any offense if the quarterback is getting hit and not able to get the ball off. And so, that can be a problem,” he added. Mahomes has been sacked 10 times in two games now, raising questions about the team’s durability in the postseason.

On top of his struggles with the offensive line, Mahomes’s confrontations with referees have continued to make headlines. Earlier this season, Mahomes was caught on a hot mic asking a referee, “Can you let me know when he’s close? Tell me, tell me.” Pretty audacious, one would say. And guess what? They did.

Despite the win, Mahomes’s performance against the Raiders left much to be desired. The O-line struggled to protect him, true. But Showtime also needs to up his game as he failed to capitalize on 3 opportunities to throw touchdown passes.