Patrick Mahomes slammed for ‘theatrics’ after obvious flop in Chiefs win against Texans

The Kansas City Chiefs secured their spot in the AFC Championship for a record seventh consecutive season with a win over the Houston Texans on Saturday. But the postgame conversation wasn’t just about Patrick Mahomes’ performance-it was about the quarterback’s questionable antics on the field and the long-standing debate they reignited.

The game was far from a clean victory, with officiating decisions drawing more attention than the scoreboard. Early in the first quarter, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes earned his team a first down after Texans defensive end Will Anderson was flagged for roughing the passer. The call, made after Anderson barely made contact with Mahomes as he released the ball, raised eyebrows and sparked heated debate among fans and analysts. Many labeled it as yet another instance of “soft” quarterback protection rules.

If that wasn’t enough, Mahomes added fuel to the fire in the second half. While sliding as a runner, he drew a targeting call against the Texans defense. The hit came after Mahomes slid late, making him vulnerable as both a runner and a quarterback. Hall of Fame quarterback-turned-commentator Troy Aikman expressed frustration with the call, pointing out the difficulty defenders face in handling such situations fairly. “He was late on the slide. What is a defender supposed to do?” Aikman questioned during the broadcast.

As the tension between referees and the Texans mounted, Mahomes delivered the moment that stole the spotlight-and not for the right reasons. While running toward the sideline, Mahomes noticeably slowed his pace and invited contact from two Houston defenders. When they obliged with a light shove at the boundary, the 29-year-old quarterback fell to the ground in exaggerated fashion, flailing his arms and legs as he tumbled.

The dramatic flop, seemingly an attempt to draw a penalty, didn’t fool officials this time. No flag was thrown, but the incident further highlighted a troubling trend: Mahomes’ ability to manipulate rules and officiating to his advantage. Fans from both sides took to social media to express frustration, with many accusing the NFL of giving Mahomes preferential treatment.

This isn’t the first time Mahomes has come under fire for leveraging the rules to gain an edge. In October, the Chiefs quarterback baited San Francisco’s defense into letting up by feigning an attempt to run out of bounds, only to continue scrambling for a career-long gain. Just one week later, a similar situation unfolded when the Raiders defense was penalized for a late hit on Mahomes, though he appeared ready to keep running if no contact was made.

Defenses across the league have expressed a growing sense of confusion when it comes to handling quarterbacks like Mahomes. NFL rules heavily protect passers, yet moments when they act as runners blur the lines, leaving defenders hesitant and prone to costly penalties.

Where does the league go from here?

Saturday’s game has reignited the ongoing debate over NFL officiating consistency and the balance of power between quarterbacks and defenses. With Mahomes at the center of these conversations, critics argue that the league needs to address how rules are enforced, particularly when it comes to flopping and late hits.

For now, the Chiefs continue their playoff march, but the controversy surrounding their star quarterback and the officiating discrepancies is far from resolved. Whether the NFL decides to address these growing concerns remains to be seen, but Mahomes’ actions on Saturday ensure the spotlight will remain on him for more than just his on-field brilliance.