Mahomes penalty sparks debate over NFL officiating
NFL fans are debating a roughing-the-passer call involving Patrick Mahomes and Dolphins linebacker Chop Robinson. The penalty came during Kansas City’s 24-10 win over Miami and sparked questions about how quarterbacks are protected.
A similar-looking play involving Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and Washington rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis the following week added more fuel to the discussion because no roughing-the-passer penalty was called.
Robinson hit Mahomes after the throw
Mahomes took the snap from Kansas City’s 5-yard line and threw a pass toward Rashee Rice on third down. Robinson reached Mahomes as he released the ball, made contact with the quarterback and then landed on top of him.
The pass was incomplete, but Robinson was penalized for roughing the passer after landing on Mahomes with his body weight. The 15-yard penalty moved Kansas City from its own 5-yard line to the 20 and gave the Chiefs a first down.
The call was for body weight
The penalty was recorded as roughing the passer, and postgame reporting identified Robinson’s landing on Mahomes with his body weight as the basis for the call. Robinson said afterward that he was unsure what he could have done differently.
He explained that he had put his hands down while falling and would try to extend them earlier. His comments came after Miami’s loss and did not challenge the decision.
NFL rules protect quarterbacks
NFL rules restrict certain contact with a passer after the ball is released. Rule 12, Section 2, Article 11 prohibits a defender from unnecessarily or violently landing on the passer with all or most of the defender’s body weight.
The rule also addresses other prohibited contact with passers after a throw. Officials use those provisions when determining whether a hit warrants a roughing-the-passer penalty.
The penalty extended the drive
Kansas City started at its own 5-yard line and received a 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty on the play involving the incomplete pass. The Chiefs continued from their 20-yard line with a new first down instead of punting after the third-down play.
Kansas City then moved 80 yards on a 13-play drive lasting 6:36. Harrison Butker finished the drive with a 34-yard field goal, giving the Chiefs a 17-10 lead.
Miami had another penalty
The same third-down play also included a defensive holding penalty against Miami’s Zach Sieler. The official play-by-play shows that penalty was declined because Kansas City accepted Robinson’s roughing-the-passer penalty instead.
The play therefore contained two defensive fouls. The accepted roughing call moved Kansas City from its own 5-yard line to the 20 and awarded a first down, while the defensive holding penalty was declined.
The play drew online criticism
The roughing call quickly became a subject of discussion among NFL fans online after the Chiefs’ win. Social-media reactions questioned why Robinson was penalized after appearing to brace himself while falling onto Mahomes.
Other reactions focused on the NFL’s treatment of quarterback hits. The discussion intensified after another quarterback contact play the following week produced no roughing-the-passer penalty, leading fans to compare the situations.
Mahomes finished with two touchdowns
Mahomes completed 20 of 24 passes for 246 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception against Miami. He also recorded 1 rushing attempt in the game.
The Chiefs won 24-10 and improved to 3-0. Kansas City later moved to 4-0 by defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 30-27 on October 4, with Mahomes throwing 2 touchdowns.
Interesting fact: The Chiefs have won four Super Bowl championships, with titles in Super Bowls IV, LIV, LVII and LVIII. They became the seventh NFL franchise to reach four Super Bowl wins.
Robinson was not fined
NFL accountability records released for Week 3 do not list Robinson among players receiving a fine for the Mahomes hit. The league’s published Week 3 accountability information includes other penalties and fines, but Robinson’s name does not appear.
Robinson remained available for Miami’s next game against Minnesota. The Dolphins lost that October 4 matchup 15-10, leaving Miami at 0-4 through four games.
Interesting fact: Mahomes became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win two Super Bowl MVP awards, doing so at age 27 after Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVII victory.
A similar play became a comparison
On October 4, Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner hit Washington rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis during a pass attempt. The play ended without a roughing-the-passer penalty against Buckner.
The comparison drew attention because Buckner appeared to brace himself as he fell. Fans compared the play with Robinson’s hit on Mahomes, although the two plays occurred in different games and involved different circumstances.
The quarterbacks were in different situations
Kaliakmanis entered Washington’s game after Marcus Mariota left with a knee injury early in the game. The rookie completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception in his NFL debut.
Mahomes entered the Miami game as Kansas City’s starter and completed 20 of 24 passes. The different circumstances do not establish whether either officiating decision was correct or incorrect.
Officials are evaluated after games
The NFL says its officiating department continuously evaluates officials, reviews game film, and provides training throughout the season. The league states that officials spend more than 30 hours each week studying video and the rulebook and reviewing evaluations.
The league also provides All-22 footage for officials, fans, and media to examine plays from multiple angles. That process allows disputed calls to be reviewed after games.
Mahomes has continued to add to his impressive NFL résumé, reaching another milestone that puts him alongside one of the league’s most accomplished quarterbacks. Check out how he joins Tom Brady in a rare NFL quarterback milestone.
The Chiefs stayed undefeated
Kansas City followed the Miami win with another victory over Las Vegas in Week 4. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 30-27 on October 4, improving to 4-0 as one of two undefeated teams in the NFL.
Mahomes completed 15 of 30 passes for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns against Las Vegas. The discussion about his Miami penalty continued as the undefeated Chiefs entered Week 5 at 0-4.
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What do you think about the Mahomes penalty? Comment and tell us whether you think the officials made the right call.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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