Ever watched a playoff game and walked away thinking, ‘Was this a football game or an officiating circus?’ That’s how fans felt after the divisional round showdown between the Chiefs and Texans. The talk wasn’t about the plays. But about the flags. Two calls, in particular, had everyone throwing their jibes and jabs on the social media.

Well, this has been a trend: Patrick Mahomes’ is refs’ child, the league’s poster boy… But the playoffs game was the tipping point, it seems.

First, Texans’ Will Anderson got hit with a roughing-the-passer penalty on Patrick Mahomes. It was third down, and the Chiefs walked away with three free points. Then, there was an unnecessary roughness call for a hit during Mahomes’ slide—even though the helmets collided away from him. And let’s not forget Mahomes’ dramatic sideline tumble later in the game. That flop? Pure acting class, sure. And the refs weren’t buying it that time. We agree. But that’s the QB-play nowadays, it seems.

However, Steelers’ Cam Heyward has admitted the fate of the defenses playing against the KC’s #15. Yeah, the same Steel City that is dealing with the Russell Wilson problem right now. Nevermind, Cam said: “Yeah, Mahomes is going to get calls. He’s an MVP, he sells tickets. The second they think it’s questionable, it’s probably getting thrown. He’s the Bruce Bowen, the Manu Ginobili—flopping and flailing.” Well, for the Ds, Heyward nailed it. For the fans, Mahomes might as well start billing the refs for assists.

Now, for a consensus: are the Chiefs really getting an advantage? Okay, there’s this side where KC hasn’t had more penalties than their opponents in their last 11 playoff games. Coincidence? Fans think not. The other side? Their upcoming opponents: the Bills.

Josh Allen, for instance, leads the NFL in drawing roughing-the-passer penalties. He gets .311 calls per game, while Mahomes sits at No. 8 with .237. Over 100 pass attempts, Allen draws almost one penalty. Mahomes? Barely half that. So, maybe it’s not just a Kansas City thing.

Then there’s referee Clete Blakeman, who’ll be officiating the AFC Championship. Fun fact: Mahomes has lost six games under Blakeman, more than with any other ref. Could this tilt the scales? Or is it just stats messing with your head?

Looking at penalties overall, Buffalo’s been sharp. They’ve committed fewer penalties but benefitted from the most unnecessary roughness calls in the league—12, to be exact. Compare that to the Chiefs, who’ve only drawn two all season.

In the end, are the Chiefs getting special treatment? Depends on who you ask. But one thing’s for sure: When it comes to penalties, the narrative isn’t going away anytime soon. However, there’s another thing for sure: Pat’s unfazed.

Patrick Mahomes’ focus in on the 3-peat

When Patrick Mahomes took the podium this week, the talk wasn’t just about the Chiefs’ hunt for a three-peat. Instead, the chatter revolved around penalties. Specifically, whether the NFL’s golden boy gets a little extra love from the refs. His answer? Straightforward as a Mahomes deep ball: “The referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and proper as they can.”

Fans, however, aren’t so sure. In last week’s win over Houston, two penalties on hits to Mahomes stirred the pot. One extended a drive that led to points, leaving Texans players claiming they were playing against the refs, not just the Chiefs. Mahomes, though, isn’t buying it. “I just try to play football at the end of the day,” he said. You’ve got to admit, that’s classic QB speak—control what you can, ignore the noise.

And speaking of ignoring the noise, let’s squash some myths. The Chiefs, despite their dominance, haven’t exactly been referee darlings. Over the last three seasons, they’ve been penalized 147 more yards than their opponents. In crunch time—think fourth quarters and overtime of close games—they rank seventh-worst in penalty differential since Mahomes took the reins in 2018. So, are the refs in their pocket? The stats don’t back it up.

But then, there was that moment. You saw it, right? Mahomes scrambling left, stepping out of bounds, and then…flop. Houston’s Henry To’oTo’o barely nudged him, but Mahomes hit the ground like he was auditioning for a soccer league. Even Troy Aikman called him out: “He’s trying to draw the penalty.” The refs didn’t bite, but fans sure did. The drama had everyone talking.

Still, Mahomes isn’t letting the penalty discourse rattle him. He’s focused on the bigger prize: Sunday’s AFC Championship against Buffalo. “Every play is different, and that’s what makes the NFL so special,” he said, pivoting back to football as seamlessly as one of his sidearm throws.

And why not focus on the game? Mahomes’ playoff numbers are staggering: 41 touchdowns, just 8 picks, and a passer rating north of 105. This season? He’s completing almost 74% of his passes in the playoffs. That’s MVP stuff. The Chiefs are on the verge of history, chasing a third straight Super Bowl title. It’s not about flags or flops—it’s about greatness.