Ferrall on Texans vs Chiefs Refereeing: ‘Roger Goodell is so Pathetic!’
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
The Houston Texans faced an uphill battle against the Kansas City Chiefs in Saturday’s NFL Divisional Round playoff game, but the most contentious element wasn’t the scoreline—it was the officiating. Accusations of bias, missed calls, and general ineptitude by the referees have ignited strong opinions from players, coaches, and SportsGrid’s Scott Ferrall. The refereeing issues were so glaring that ignoring their impact on the game’s outcome is impossible.
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Two Calls Causing Controversy
The controversy in the Chiefs-Texans Divisional Round game centers around two pivotal penalties that heavily influenced the outcome. In the first quarter, Houston edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was flagged for roughing the passer after what appeared to be a light push to Patrick Mahomes’ chest following an incomplete pass to Travis Kelce on third down. The questionable call extended the Chiefs’ drive, resulting in a field goal.
Later, in the third quarter, Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o was penalized for unnecessary roughness after hitting Mahomes near the neck as he slid to avoid defenders. Though the play was bang-bang and debatable, the call pushed Kansas City deep into Houston territory, leading to a touchdown. These two critical penalties extended Kansas City drives and fueled widespread outrage over the officiating.
DeMeco Ryans: “Us Versus Everybody"
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t hold back when addressing the perceived unfairness his team faced. “We knew going into this game, man, it was us versus everybody,” Ryans said postgame. “When I say everybody, it’s everybody—the naysayers, the doubt, right? Everybody.” His pointed remarks reflect a frustration shared not only by his team but by football fans watching the game unfold.
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Joe Mixon: “The Whole World Sees It"
Texans running back Joe Mixon took the criticism even further, calling out the officiating outright. “Everybody knows how it is playing up here. You can never leave it in the ref’s hands, but I mean, the whole world sees, man, what it is. But it is what it is,” Mixon stated. His frustration is a direct indictment of the NFL’s officiating standards, highlighting what many viewed as an unbalanced playing field in favor of the home team.
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Scott Ferrall: A Scathing Rebuke of the NFL and Goodell
SportsGrid’s Scott Ferrall didn’t mince words, directing his criticism straight at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league’s officiating. “Roger Goodell is so pathetic because he sent a guy around all the morning shows to defend their calls. You only do that when you suck at your job,” Ferrall remarked. He continued, “No one is fooled by the NFL, Roger Goodell, or his crappy refs. They suck.”
Ferrall’s frustration wasn’t limited to this one game. He called out the league’s broader referee issues, recalling a game in Pittsburgh where the officiating was “so mishandled and mismanaged” that it dragged on for hours. “They couldn’t get any call right. They couldn’t get the clock right. They couldn’t get the replay right. They have a referee problem in the National Football League, and they don’t want to admit it,” Ferrall added.
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An NFL League-Wide Problem
This controversy isn’t an isolated incident. From missed calls to inconsistent replay reviews, the NFL’s officiating has been scrutinized for years. Ferrall noted that the league appears more focused on expanding its international presence than addressing its glaring referee issues. Fans, players, and coaches are losing patience with a system that seems to prioritize PR over quality and fairness on the field.
