Patrick Mahomes was accused of giving instructions to the referee when the Kansas City Chiefs played the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. The unforeseen incident created massive buzz on the internet.
The Chiefs welcomed AFC West rivals, the Broncos, looking to extend their unbeaten start to nine games. However, it was the visiting team who scored first through Courtland Sutton, putting the Chiefs on the backfoot.
This created pressure on Mahomes to deliver, but hardly anyone guessed the multiple-time NFL MVP’s next move. After Broncos safety Brandon Jones brought the 29-year-old around the tenth-minute mark in the second quarter, the microphone caught his fleeting words directed at the sideline referee.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Patrick Mahomes caught on a hot mic asking a ref if they can let him know when a defender is close to him.
This is INSANE.pic.twitter.com/kPotxxjdlE
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 10, 2024
The microphone clearly picked up Mahomes speaking with someone off-camera. “Can you let me know if he gets close?” Patrick Mahomes said.
Even CBS announcers Kevin Harlan and Trent Green joked among themselves about Mahomes instructing the officials. Fans claimed this was proof enough that the Chiefs were guilty of being favored by the league officials. Here are some of the reactions:
NFL Not even trying g to hide it no more 😭
— Drake 10 (@DrakesPats) November 10, 2024
Soooo @nflcommish you’re gonna look into this right? https://t.co/IYPGlPiarm
— Lawrence (@BoNixSzn) November 10, 2024
We all knew it’s rigged. They’re the new NE Pats. https://t.co/ThZDhuRRhn
— Tamana Jobb (@TamanaJ) November 10, 2024
The commentators laughing and joking about it like this isn’t real. @NFL Rigged ….
Chiefs will get the 9-0 https://t.co/ajTISiVuuy
— Eric Ayala 🤞🏻🦒🧡💛🦒🤞🏻 (@EAalldayyy) November 10, 2024
Can’t make this 💩 up https://t.co/gw6XMXRJXl
— Tractor Ketchup (TM)♥️ (@iateallthecat2) November 10, 2024
Can’t make this 💩 up https://t.co/gw6XMXRJXl
— Tractor Ketchup (TM)♥️ (@iateallthecat2) November 10, 2024
Ayoooooo the FIX IS IN!!! https://t.co/Rv1lPRkUWA
— Nitro The Wunderkind (@Nitro_Quantum) November 10, 2024
I’m sure this won’t make Bills fans angry. https://t.co/xtXI12Q7uP
— Josh Reed (@4JoshReed) November 10, 2024
https://t.co/D4C4ZnkOLs pic.twitter.com/OL4ahjCI3D
— Jason (@JasonWard23) November 10, 2024
Make it more obvious, Pat… https://t.co/E50vxDYmk8
— Karsen 🐎 (@Broncos4six) November 10, 2024
https://t.co/a82fluaYew pic.twitter.com/AbhLSMC7Zl
— 𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘺🧊 (@ibzooted) November 10, 2024
Was Patrick Mahomes talking to the referee?
At first glance, it will appear that the three-time Super Bowl winner was talking with the sideline referee, considering the camera zoned in on him during Mahomes’ monologue. However, the reality is very different.
Prior to the snap, the Chiefs’ right tackle Jawaan Taylor stood in an illegal formation and almost handed the Chiefs an illegal start at the line of scrimmage. Mahomes was yelling at one of the staff, whose job it is to make sure the line remains accurate.
You’re braindead… he’s referring to his RT lining up correctly
— MKG (@MKG_Sports) November 10, 2024
literally talking ab jawaan and where he lines up LMAO https://t.co/mIoQqKtM4Y
— dylan – lani white truther (@LaniiTruther) November 10, 2024
For those who don’t want to be intellectually dishonest, this is about Jawaan Taylor’s alignment. https://t.co/WhN3n0cjRZ
— Jaime Eisner (@JaimeEisner) November 10, 2024
Taylor has a habit of jumping the line quite often. He routinely gets penalized for false starts and movement straying offside. Even after adjusting his contract, Taylor’s clumsiness remains intact.
As for Patrick Mahomes, even in his mixed-bag season, he continues to get the better of defenses. Before playing against the Broncos in week ten, he completed 1942 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. If the Chiefs defeat the team from Denver, then they will increase their winning streak to fifteen games dating back to Christmas 2023 when they lost to the Las Vegas Raiders.