The Kansas City Chiefs were bailed out by NFL referees during Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. Chop Robinson was flagged for roughing the passer on a clean hit to the chest of Patrick Mahomes.
It resulted in a 15-yard penalty and a fresh set of downs.
This questionable penalty is not going to help the NFL with optics. Why does Mahomes always get the call?
What is roughing the passer?
Per Section 2, Article 11 of the NFL rulebook, roughing the passer can be called for the following reasons:
- Hitting the passer after the ball has been released, beyond the one-step window
- A defender can make contact through his first step after the quarterback’s release.
- Driving the quarterback into the ground
- Even if the defender makes legal contact within the one-step window, he can be penalized for unnecessarily wrestling him down.
- Landing on the quarterback with full body weight
- A defender is expected to try and brace the fall with his arms or land to the side.
- Forcibly hitting the quarterback in the head or neck area with the helmet
- This can be called a foul even if the defender’s helmet makes contact below the quarterback’s neck and then reaches the head or neck area.
- Lowing the head
- This is self-explanatory.
- Hitting a quarterback in the knee area or below
- A defender cannot hit the quarterback at the knee or below if he has one or both feet on the ground.
- Rolling into the quarterback’s lower leg
- A defender cannot initiate a roll or lunge that results in forcible contact at or below the quarterback’s knee.
- Unnecessary contact with a quarterback who is clearly out of the play
- The quarterback who has released the ball cannot be hit unless he becomes a blocker or runner.
- Violent contact with the quarterback after a change of possession
- The quarterback is still protected after an interception.
There is an important exception to this rule. A quarterback who runs outside of the pocket loses the one-step protection.
The penalty is 15 yards and an automatic first down. The offender can also be disqualified if the act is deemed flagrant.
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs were bailed out by the penalty.
Now that we have defined ‘Roughing the Passer,’ lets take a look at the hit on Sunday. Kansas City had 3rd-and-9 at its own five-yard-line. Miami trailed 14-10. It looked like the Dolphins were going to force the Chiefs to punt.
However, Chop Robinson was flagged for this hit:
On 3rd down – Chop Robinson hits Mahomes and gets flagged for roughing the passer.
— Jason Sarney – Dolphins Wire (@Jason_Sarney) September 27, 2026
There was also another flag on Miami on play.
Unfortunate situation in what could have been a game changing stop. pic.twitter.com/9utFSwu6fD
It appeared as though Robinson made contact with the chest of Patrick Mahomes, not the head or neck. He did not drive him into the ground. Nor did he lower his head or land on Mahomes with his full weight. He even threw his arms to the side.
Didn’t matter. Mahomes looked for a flag. The officials gave him one.
As a result, Kansas City got a free first down. The Chiefs went on to add a field goal on a drive that could’ve ended on third down. (Mind you, a holding penalty would’ve kept them alive anyway but there is a big different between 5 and 10 yards.)