Getty Image / Kevin C Cox
Sunday’s AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals ended in pretty terrible fashion for the Bengals.
With the game tied late, the Chiefs were driving to try and set themselves up for a game-winning field goal.
The Chiefs faced a 3 and 4 from their own 47 with just 17 seconds left and no timeouts. Patrick Mahomes took off for 5 yards and the first down, but after he stepped out of bounds, he was pushed by Joseph Ossai.
The play resulted in an extra 15 yards being tacked on, setting the Chiefs up for a 45-yard field goal with 8 seconds left. Harrison Butter made the kick to win the game.
It was an unfortunate ending to such a competitive game, but seemed to be the right call.
It doesn’t appear that’s the case if you ask one anonymous NFC coach.
This defensive coach told The Athletic’s Mike Sando that he was not a fan of Mahomes’ “flop”.
An NFC defensive coach shared this with The Athletic's Mike Sando on the unnecessary roughness call late in the AFCCG involving #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes…
lol. #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/o6A1uIQzVY
— Devon Clements (@DevclemNFL) January 31, 2023
That is what the owners want, $40 million skill players flopping on the ground, drawing fouls from [part-time officials who double as] chemistry teachers, medical device salesmen and the like.
It’s one thing to disagree with the call given the situation, but it’s pretty ridiculous to accuse Mahomes of flopping.
The contact on the play was clear and Mahomes was playing on an injured ankle, so he was probably a bit easier to take down on Sunday than he would usually be.
The issue that this coach is bringing up also isn’t even an issue the players have control over. I’m sure the players would like to have better officiated games. They don’t control the fact that refs aren’t full-time employees.
There were legitimate gripes to be had with the officiating in this game, but none of those have anything to do with Patrick Mahomes “flopping”.