The Kansas City Chiefs got a break from the officials at a key moment in their Week 3 matchup with the Miami Dolphins, and it helped swing the game further in their direction.
It happened late in the third quarter on third-and-nine. Patrick Mahomes dropped back inside his own end zone and let the ball go to Rashee Rice just as Chop Robinson arrived with a hit. Robinson made contact while the ball was still in Mahomes’ hand, and the collision was hard, but it did not involve a hit to the head or neck.
Still, two flags came flying in.
Officials ruled Robinson had landed on Mahomes with all of his bodyweight, a call that drew plenty of eye-rolls in the moment. As Rate the Refs put it: "In what world is this roughing the passer? Does not hit to the head or neck area, and makes the best attempt to not land on him with his full body weight."
The penalty changed the sequence completely. Instead of Kansas City punting, the Chiefs kept the drive alive, moved down the field and finished it with a field goal to push the lead to 17-10.
From there, Kansas City kept rolling and finished off a 24-10 win to move to 3-0. Mahomes was sharp throughout, completing 20 of 24 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns.
One scoring throw went to Travis Kelce, who caught his second touchdown of the season. Kenneth Walker III accounted for the other two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving.
Next up for the Chiefs is a trip to Las Vegas to face the Raiders.
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Jacob Rodriguez and Jordyn Brooks both framed the performance as progress, the sort of game that can matter later even when it does not change the record right away. For a Miami team trying to steady itself early in the season, the hope is that the defensive steps forward become a foundation rather than just a brief flash in an otherwise frustrating afternoon. [Read more 🡒]