Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business at home Monday night, beating the New Orleans Saints 26-13 to improve to 5-0 on the season. The two-time defending champs are just one of two unbeaten teams left in the NFL heading into their bye week.
The Chiefs, who next face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7, looked solid once again. Mahomes threw for 331 yards, Travis Kelce had 70 yards receiving (as well as one cool lateral) and the defense caused problems all night long for New Orleans.
The Chiefs defense, however, might have gotten away with something late in the game when refs seemed to miss a pass interefence call with just over two minutes left. Troy Aikman, who was on the call for ESPN, said after the play:
"I think maybe these officials are ready to go home because that looked like definite contact before the ball arrived."
After Joe Buck agreed that it looked like a penalty, Aikman added this about the refs: "I can’t blame them if they do want to go home."
Here's that play:
Troy Aikman saying it should be a flag but can’t blame refs for wanting to go home? Not funny Troy! We know they love Chiefs #MNF pic.twitter.com/D74d4cjK07
— Connie Carberg (@ConnieScouts) October 8, 2024
The Saints turned the ball over on downs a few plays later to put an end to the game.
Fans were not happy:
Tonight Aikman said on air that the refs didn’t call the obvious 4th quarter PI against the Chiefs because with KC ahead the refs were tired and just want to get home.
— Dontay Atkinson (@DonAtkinsonNFL) October 8, 2024
That says what it sounds like.
Man, the @NFL_MNF refs really phoned it in at the end. Troy Aikman’s little joke about the refs wanting to go home felt just true. Just terrible.
— Lars Kenseth (@larskenseth) October 8, 2024
Bryan Cook tackling Chris Olave before the ball is anywhere close … no flag … Troy Aikman; “can’t blame the officials for wanting to go home” 🤬🤬🤬
— Air Raid | Buffalo (@TheBillsGuys) October 8, 2024
Troy aikman and joe buck opening saying these refs don’t wanna call Flags on the chiefs 🤦🏻♂️😂
— x - Chuck1three (@Chuck1three) October 8, 2024
Troy Aikman literally just laughed on ESPN because the refs swallowed the whistle for the chiefs
— TommySchirnhofer (@TommyS8) October 8, 2024
NFL ref logic, according to Troy Aikman: “we don’t have to call stuff that hurts the Chiefs because we want to go home”.
— Ryanna (@hufflepuff_owl) October 8, 2024
“I think these officials are ready to go home.” - Aikman.
— Mildly Annoyed Red Guy (@LifeDtf) October 8, 2024
He’s right. Lots of “missed” penalties going KC’s way tonight. Wow.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Troy Aikman's Line About Refs After Missed Call Late in Chiefs' Win Annoyed Fans.
