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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Kristen Wong

One Stunning Stat About Patrick Mahomes’s Penalty Advantage in Playoffs Says It All

City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts during the fourth quarter of a 2025 AFC divisional round game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

The Kansas City Chiefs are just one win away from the Super Bowl this winter and are in tantalizing reach of the coveted three-peat. Their fans will say they earned their spot in the AFC championship game through talent and hard work, while their critics will loudly blast the refs for seemingly giving the Chiefs preferential treatment along the way.

The only sample size so far this postseason is the Chiefs’ 23–14 win over the Houston Texans in the divisional round, when Patrick Mahomes received two favorable calls worth 15-yard penalties apiece en route to his team’s playoff victory.

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