“Can’t touch the golden boy”: NFL fans outraged with Chiefs vs Packers referees after Jonathan Owens flagged for late hit on Patrick Mahomes

Following a heartbreaking loss to the Detroit Lions in their season opener, the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs appeared to be clinging to the ghost of their Lombardi Trophy. In Week 13, they took the field with their two-time MVP to battle with the comparatively inexperienced Jordan Love-led pack of scrappy Packers, MVPs in spirit if not in name.

Even with the refs acting as their personal flag-waving squad, the Chiefs found themselves in a dogfight to rob a win from the Packers and fall to 8-4. The night was tough for the Chiefs, while the NFL fans chose to add more salt to their wounds by cracking jokes about their received preference from the refs.

Jonathan Owens flagged for rough tackle on Patrick Mahomes

Seeing the Chiefs team’s performance last season, you can’t argue that this season they are playing on the same level. The offense has been showing average or below-average performance in almost all games, which was more visible in their games against the Denver Broncos, which snatched Patrick Mahomes’ two impressive records.

After being beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles recently, the Chiefs were once again doomed by the Green Bay Packers, suffering a 27-19 loss.  Mahomes was eagerly waiting to get his first step on the Lambeau field, yet little was aware of the nightmare he was going to receive.

Amid these, Sunday night’s game between the Chiefs and the Packers was also marred by questionable calls. The first controversy arose with a disputed, unnecessary roughness call benefiting Kansas City, setting the tone for the game. A critical moment followed when Patrick Mahomes attempted a deep throw to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, seemingly impeded by defensive pass interference, yet no penalty was called, per the Bleacher Report.

Later, Mahomes’ scramble saw a late-hit call against the Packers, granting the Chiefs 15 yards. For that, Jonathan Owens received a penalty for unnecessary roughness. 

The controversial decisions of the refs have started since Week 2, featuring the New York Jets as the victims; though, the NFL later sought an apology from the team. Yet, following that, the controversial call has been hitting the headlines in almost all games with no sign of decline. 

Fans furious at Chief vs Packers refs

With his Pro-Level footing, Patrick Mahomes has already turned into a “golden boy” for the Chiefs fans, although the refs also see the starter as a “golden boy,” and they were not aware of the NFL fans until Owens got the controversial call about being contacted with the 28-year-old during the play.

“Can’t touch the golden boy,” one arrogant fan wrote in a comment. 

Since the start of the season, Patrick Mahomes’ team has gotten some privileges from the refs that were notable during their Week 4 mathup against the New York Jets, seeing them get “Tom Brady-level protection.” This week again, they got unwavering support from the refs, which made the fans furious, referring to it as a “terrible call” and Mahomes’ as a fighter for “extra yard.”

“Terrible call. I get wanting to protect Mahomes, but he’s fighting for that extra yard,” one comment read.

Though they won the game, this time Love’s offense did not leave any chance for the Chiefs to gain any advantage. 

Though it may seem like a little issue, for some fans, the whole NFL has been becoming “unwatchable.” Jet’s starter Aaron Rodgers’s even pointed out some suggestions to get rid of this issue, yet the league is seemingly little concerned with it.

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