Patrick Mahomes benefits from adoring NFL refs, according to New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon, who used an allegedly homophobic AI meme to illustrate his point on social media following Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Week 15 game in Foxborough marked the second consecutive Chiefs contest to end in controversy. Only unlike last week, when Kansas City fell to the Buffalo Bills due largely to a controversial offsides penalty, the Chiefs benefitted Sunday from a defensive holding call, which negated New England’s fumble recovery and resulted in a Harrison Butker field goal.
When one fan shared the footage on X to question the penalty (‘WHAT THE HELL’) another responded with an AI-generated image of Mahomes kissing a male referee on the mouth.
‘I see no lies,’ the injured Judon wrote in response, prompting some allegations of homophobia on X.
’50k fine should be expected,’ one wrote.
Patrick Mahomes (left) benefits from adoring NFL refs, according to Matthew Judon (right)
Judon agreed with the sentiment conveyed in the allegedly homophobic AI-generated meme
The Chiefs won 27-17 on Sunday, bouncing back from last week’s difficult defeat to the Bills, when Mahomes felt that Kansas City was on the wrong side of a bad call.
Mahomes and Chiefs coach Andy Reid have reportedly both been fined for criticizing officials to the media following the loss to Buffalo.
Kadarius Toney clearly lined up offside on a play in which he caught a lateral from Travis Kelce and ran for what would have been a go-ahead score. Reid said officials normally warn players about being offside and called the penalty ‘a bit embarrassing’ for the NFL.
Mahomes slammed his helmet on the sideline and screamed at officials afterward. He said the penalty call was ‘elementary school’ stuff.
Things were considerably different in Foxborough on Sunday, when Mahomes passed for 305 yards and threw two TD passes in the win.
The Chiefs caught a break in the third when Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers recovered a Chiefs fumble, only to see teammate Alex Austin flagged for defensive holding – a questionable call that negated the turnover.
While Mahomes and the 9-5 Chiefs are still eyeing another division title and a chance to repeat as Super Bowl champs, Judon and the 3-11 Patriots are headed for an offseason of uncertainty.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick is on the hot seat, while Judon is currently recovering from biceps surgery.
