Credit: NFL on ESPN
Three-time Super Bowl champion and current broadcaster Troy Aikman has slammed superstar QB Patrick Mahomes for his “failure” during Saturday’s controversial game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans. led.
In a National Football League playoff game, Mahomes appeared to dramatically throw himself to the ground during a fourth-quarter play as the Texans were flagged for being rough, causing a stir among experts and fans. I got angry.
“He’s trying to score a penalty, he’s not just going over the edge, he’s slowing down. That was the frustration,” said analyst Aikman in the ESPN commentary booth. I get it. That was the frustration of defensemen around the league.”
Although the Texans were not penalized for the play, the tide of anger continued on social media from fans outraged by such antics in American football, with two separate statements supporting the Chiefs early in the game. increased the sense of injustice.
Aikman said he “couldn’t agree more” with the decision to penalize Houston’s Henry Tootoo and Folorunso Fatukasi for hits on Mahomes in the third quarter, saying the quarterback was a “runner” on the play. He said this was significant. Rules designed to protect him should not apply. Russell Yuk, ESPN’s on-air rules expert, also said he doesn’t think the Houston players collided with Mahomes as he fell, and that he doesn’t think the players collided with Mahomes underneath him. . The Chiefs took advantage of the ruling and scored a touchdown to take a 20-12 lead.
Early in the contest, Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. also took offense when he was flagged for roughing the passer on an incomplete pass from Mahomes. The drive resulted in a field goal, giving the Chiefs a 6-3 lead. Anderson Jr. was candid in his postgame evaluation, telling reporters, “We knew going into this game it was going to be a battle between us and the referees.”
“The first contact appeared to be in the upper chest area. I didn’t see anything that would indicate a foul,” ESPN rules analyst Russell Yuke said.
Troy Aikman: “I agree with you, Russell. From that angle, it doesn’t look like a helmet-to-helmet collision…that’s a serious penalty.” #NFL pic. twitter.com/xt2nmDPqfg
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NFL players can be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, but there are no official rules specifically prohibiting “flops” or “dives.” Eichman urged the NFL to change the rules, saying, “We have to deal with this in the offseason.”
Kansas City won the game 23-14 and advances to the AFC Championship Game, where they will await the winner of Sunday’s game between the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens. Also on Saturday, the Washington Commanders and their rookie QB Jaden Daniels made a huge impact by defeating the top-seeded Detroit Lions and advancing to the NFC Championship Game. The manager will next face either the Los Angeles Rams or the Philadelphia Eagles.
With wins in the last two showcases, the Chiefs have a chance to win an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl as Mahomes chases his fourth career title.
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