The Houston Texans left no room for ambiguity about their feelings following their divisional round playoff exit on Saturday. In their view, the officiating crew had a significant hand in their 23-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, and they weren’t shy about expressing it.
“We knew going into this game that it was ‘Us vs. Everybody,‘” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans during the post-game press conference. “And when I say everybody — it’s everybody.” Echoing this sentiment, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. remarked, “We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game.”
Despite being tagged as 8.5-point underdogs against the two-time reigning champions, the Texans managed to hold their own early on, going toe-to-toe with Kansas City. They outperformed the Chiefs in total yardage and showed impressive efficiency on third downs. However, one glaring issue was penalties, and this disparity became a key talking point after the game.
While the Chiefs were flagged a mere four times for 29 yards in front of their home crowd, the Texans suffered eight penalties, costing them 82 yards. It wasn’t just the quantity of flags that irked the Texans; it was the nature of the calls themselves that left them frustrated.
NFL officiating expert Ben Austro from Football Zebras reviewed the game and noted that the most controversial flags should not have been called. His analysis added fuel to the Texans’ complaints, starting with a call in the first quarter that significantly impacted the game’s momentum.
A Roughing the Passer Call That Changed Everything
The first questionable call came with 7:00 left in the first quarter. Will Anderson Jr. was flagged for roughing the passer after Patrick Mahomes’ incomplete throw. Instead of facing a 4th-and-3 situation, the penalty kept Kansas City’s drive alive. Seven plays later, they converted the opportunity into a field goal, taking a 6-3 lead.
According to Austro, the call was unwarranted. “Texans defensive end Will Anderson was flagged for roughing the passer. The contact was high, but there was no forcible contact to the head or neck area. This should not have been penalized.” He explained that although replay rules might have corrected the error, the presence of any contact to the head limited officials’ ability to overturn the call. Unfortunately for the Texans, this mistake handed Kansas City a free 15 yards.
A Second Controversial Call Spurs More Frustration
Another critical moment unfolded late in the third quarter, with 1:52 remaining. Houston had just executed a remarkable 15-play, 82-yard touchdown drive to narrow the gap to one point. With the score at 13-12, Kansas City responded on their next possession with a dazzling 11-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to Travis Kelce. While that play itself was clean, an earlier call during the drive wasn’t.
Linebacker Henry To’oTo’o was penalized for unnecessary roughness after making a tackle on Mahomes during a 9-yard scramble. Austro criticized this call as well, stating, “A second hit on quarterback Patrick Mahomes was ruled unnecessary roughness. In reality, this should not have been a flag, and in the context of the earlier erroneous flag, this fans the flames of preferential treatment.”
He elaborated further: “On a run like this, there are no quarterback protections beyond those available to any other runner. Mahomes’ late decision to slide created incidental contact, not forcible contact to the head or neck area. The officials mistakenly interpreted the tackle as a forcible shot to the head.”
Austro’s comments acknowledged that such calls feed into the long-standing perception of the Chiefs receiving favorable treatment from referees. While he dismissed this as a myth, he admitted that games like this only fuel the narrative.
Other Factors Contributing to the Texans’ Loss
While the controversial penalties undeniably influenced the game, they weren’t the sole reason for Houston’s defeat. The Texans made several costly mistakes that hindered their chances of pulling off an upset. For starters, they left five points on the board due to three missed kicks, went 1-for-3 in the red zone, and allowed a 16-yard sack on a crucial 4th-and-10 play in the fourth quarter. These miscues compounded their struggles and ultimately prevented them from capitalizing on their otherwise competitive performance.
The Bigger Picture: Frustration and Lessons Learned
For Houston, the game was a stark reminder of the razor-thin margins in playoff football. To have a chance against a team like Kansas City, every detail matters. And while the officiating blunders drew much of the spotlight, the Texans also had opportunities to change the outcome that they failed to seize.
“We needed to bring our A-game today, and we didn’t,” admitted Coach Ryans. “But neither did the officials.”
The frustration felt by the Texans was palpable, and understandably so. Being on the wrong side of questionable officiating calls can leave a sour taste, especially in a high-stakes playoff game. However, the team’s focus moving forward will undoubtedly shift to addressing their own shortcomings while ensuring they’re prepared for the challenges ahead.
Key Takeaways:
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Houston outperformed Kansas City in several areas, including total yardage and third-down efficiency.
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The Texans were flagged eight times for 82 yards, compared to the Chiefs’ four penalties for 29 yards.
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Two controversial penalties—a roughing the passer call and an unnecessary roughness flag—were highlighted as pivotal moments in the game.
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NFL officiating expert Ben Austro criticized both calls, stating they should not have been flagged.
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Despite the officiating, Houston’s missed opportunities, including failed kicks and poor red-zone execution, contributed to their defeat.
As the Texans regroup, this game will likely serve as both a source of motivation and a lesson in resilience. Facing adversity is part of the journey, and Houston will aim to use this experience to fuel their growth as a team.
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