ESPN’S Troy Aikman criticized a penalty call that benefited the Kansas City Chiefs early in Saturday’s Divisional Round playoff game.
The sequence happened during the first quarter of the Houston Texans–Chiefs contest at GEHA Field at Arrowhead.
GettyESPN star Troy Aikman spotted on the field before an NFL game in 2023[/caption]
Aikman took issue with a penalty call on Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. that helped out Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City in the Divisional Round gameESPN
On Kansas City’s second drive of the game, it appeared that the team suffered a three-and-out.
However, the officials called a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on Texans star pass rusher Will Anderson Jr., who hit Mahomes just after he released the football.
The decision was made for an apparent head-to-head contact on a quarterback, which automatically gave the Chiefs a first down.
However, the ESPN cameras showed Anderson didn’t hit Mahomes in the end, and in the chest area.
ESPN rules analyst Russell Yurk disagreed with the foul call.
“It looked like that first contact was to the upper chest area. I didn’t see anything there that supported a foul,” said rules analyst Russell Yurk when asked about the call.
Aikman agreed with Yurk and noted the magnitude of the decision.
“I agree with you, Russell,” Aikman said. “From that angle there, I don’t see helmet-to-helmet.
“Big time penalty.”
Unfortunately for the Texans, the Chiefs kicked a field goal in the same drive, giving them a 6-3 lead with 3:59 left in the first quarter.
NFL fans raged over the controversial penalty call on social media.
“Maybe the worst call of all time,” one commented.
“The league is a freaking joke,” another wrote.
“It’s not a Chiefs playoff game without any calls they get gifted,” a third added.
NFL division round schedule
Sat 18 Jan, 4.30 pm ET (ESPN/ABC) – Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
Sat 18 Jan, 8 pm ET (Fox) – Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions
Sun 19 Jan, 3 pm ET (NBC) – Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
Sun 19 Jan, 6.30 pm ET (CBS) – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
“This is embarrassing,” a fourth stated.
During that same drive, Aikman asked Yurk if the flag could’ve been picked up after an expedited review.
Yurk confirmed that while the flag could’ve been picked up, it wouldn’t have been justified on the play.
“Replay can come in and pick up a flag for high contact to the head-and-neck area of a quarterback,” he said.
“But if there’s any contact at all, they can’t pick it up. It looks like there might have been some contact.
“Even if not forceable enough to be a foul, there’s enough that they can’t pick it up.”