Former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Leo Chenal sure has had a great start to his NFL career. Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Chenal will now be appearing in his third consecutive AFC Championship Game. Of course, he has also won two Super Bowl rings as Kansas City is the back-to-back Super Bowl Champions.
Chenal and the Chiefs are returning to the AFC Championship game after defeating the Houston Texans 23-14 on Saturday night. However, they did not get there without a little bit of controversy.
Former Wisconsin Badgers Linebacker Leo Chenal and the Chiefs Got Favorable Calls from the Officials
Throughout the course of the game between the Chiefs and Texans, fans and former NFL players were highly critical of the officiating. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes especially was the recipient of some very beneficial decisions made by the referees.
“Roughing the passer” on Mahomes when he was quite literally not even hit.
The NFL game is truly unwatchable. Never seen a blatant rig job in my life. pic.twitter.com/vVwTKJ3Fgw
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) January 18, 2025
In the above clip, Mahomes slid late on his scramble. Two Texans defenders hit their helmets together while barely touching the two-time NFL MVP. Still, they were flagged for hitting a sliding quarterback.
Patrick Mahomes with a flop that would make Josh Allen proud pic.twitter.com/hJNFzmpV6J
— outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) January 18, 2025
And then there was the play above where Mahomes flopped as if he had been violently hit while out of bounds, which drew another penalty.
Wisconsin Badgers Legend Joe Thomas Thanks Patrick Mahomes
Former Badgers offensive lineman and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas was watching the game and, as many, was not too thrilled about the officiating.
As the game was going on, he took to social media to sarcastically thank Mahomes for making the problem with NFL referees so obvious to everyone:
.@PatrickMahomes doing a wonderful job exploiting the sham “unnecessary roughness” on QB rules today…helping to prove my point and get the NFL to make the necessary changes in the offseason.
Thank you friend 🤝🤝
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) January 18, 2025
Many fans on social media were comparing Mahomes’ flopping to that done in the NBA by LeBron James and Joel Embiid. In that league, it had become such a problem that players were whistled were flopping.
Perhaps the NFL needs to look into doing that as well.
More Wisconsin Badgers Football News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
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- “This Is Such an Honor;” Former Badgers RB Melvin Gordon Reacts to College Football Hall of Fame Nod
- Current Badgers Cornerback Promises Big Things Under Luke Fickell
- Badgers Linebacker Drawing Interest from Multiple Teams Ahead of NFL Draft
- JJ Watt Vouches for Fellow Badgers Great in 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Debates
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