On Thursday, Kansas City Chiefs fans and former players let their opinions know after Joey Bosa’s questionable hit on Patrick Mahomes.
The NFL’s Thursday Night Football opener on Amazon Prime featured major injury storylines, before, during, and after the game. The Kansas City Chiefs‘ biggest injury scare was when quarterback Patrick Mahomes limped after a low blow from Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Joey Bosa in the first half.
Let’s take a look at the play:
Here's the play where Andrew Wylie got called for holding and Patrick Mahomes came up limping. #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/c6xEwYlzAf
— Devon Clements (@DevclemNFL) September 16, 2022
Fans, Chiefs players, and even commentator Kirk Herbstreit thought the subsequent flag would be against Bosa. The hit looked like a textbook example from NFL’s rule book, namely Rule 12, Article 11, regarding roughing the passer.
"A rushing defender is prohibited from forcibly hitting in the knee area or below a passer who has one or both feet on the ground, even if the initial contact is above the knee. It is not a foul if the defender is blocked (or fouled) into the passer and has no opportunity to avoid him."
When officials addressed the play, there was no penalty on Bosa. Instead, Chiefs right tackle Andrew Wylie drew the penalty for holding and dragging Bosa into Mahomes. That call drew the ire of Chiefs fans, former players, and even Mahomes’ family. Brittany Mahomes, Patrick’s wife and part-owner of the Kansas City Current, quickly made her opinion known.
Guess we can hit QBs like that now
— Brittany Mahomes (@BrittanyLynne) September 16, 2022
Former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill was closely watching Thursday’s game. He commended Mahomes on a great throw and addressed the penalty on Wylie.
Bad call on my boy wylie
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) September 16, 2022
Former Chiefs kicker Lawrence Tynes took it one step further. He pointed out that Bosa’s hit was no accident as Chargers fans would portray.
Watch Bosa’s left foot, he digs into the grass and launches at Mahomes lower half. Dirty as it gets. pic.twitter.com/kEwgfqC5Us
— Lawrence Tynes (@lt4kicks) September 16, 2022
On the other hand, former Chiefs and Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz sided with the game’s referees on their call.
I think it wasn't an egregious holding or pull down, but there was a bit of a tug. And from everything the ref is seeing it's looking like Bosa is getting pulled down (because he is). I don't think it's a bad call https://t.co/Fnd3O3ZtFy
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) September 16, 2022
As a whole though, Chiefs Kingdom was very quick to call Bosa’s hit what it was: a penalty, accidental or not.
I love how they so casually ignore that Wylie did not push Bosa into Mahomes
— Zach Gunter (@ZGKC08) September 16, 2022
Disagree. He hit the QB low. If it's not a penalty on Wylie, the intent by bosa doesn't matter, by rule its 15.
— Kyle Henning (@kthen16) September 16, 2022
So, they say Wylie threw Bosa against PM. Why then Bosa grabs Mahomes leg? That should at least offset.
— Pistachin (@pistachin__) September 16, 2022
Bosa absolutely dove at Mahomes legs. He wasn’t pulled into the QB by the tackle. Treat our quarterback like an MVP. #ChiefsKingdom
— Steve Bundy (@just_Bundy) September 16, 2022