Kansas City Chiefs Andy Reid Unhappy With Refs After 10 Penalty Game On Thanksgiving
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid expressed his frustration with the officiating following a penalty-filled 31-28 Thanksgiving loss to the Dallas Cowboys. In a game where the Chiefs were flagged 10 times for 119 yards, Reid took the uncharacteristic step of publicly questioning the referees’ calls, particularly the high number of pass interference penalties against his defense.
Kansas City Chiefs On The Ropes
The loss dealt a significant blow to the Chiefs’ already slim playoff hopes, and the lopsided penalty count was a major topic of conversation after the game. While normally reserved in his criticism of officials, Reid made it clear he disagreed with how the game was called.
Reid Questions “Ticky-Tack” Calls
Speaking to reporters after the loss, Reid suggested that the officials should have let both teams play a more physical style, especially given the size and strength of the Cowboys’ receivers. He felt his defensive backs were unfairly penalized while fighting for position.
“I’m not always going to agree with the call, but the calls were made,” Reid stated in his post-game press conference. “[The Cowboys] have got some physical receivers, big, strong physical guys, and that’s the way they were playing. My guys were fighting to maintain leverage in that, and it’s just not the way I saw it, but it’s the way the referees saw it.”
The game included five pass interference calls against Kansas City, several of which were described by observers as “ticky-tack.” The penalty disparity was a recurring issue for the Chiefs this season, with similar penalty counts contributing to earlier losses against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Costly Penalties Hurt Playoff Hopes
The loss dropped the Chiefs further behind the division-leading Denver Broncos, making their path to the postseason incredibly difficult. Reid acknowledged that regardless of his opinion on the calls, his team needs to be more disciplined. “Bottom line is we’re having too many penalties, and we have to make sure to take care of that,” he said. “No excuses with it. We’re going to clean it up.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 261 yards and four touchdowns, echoed the sentiment that the team needed to be more consistent. He felt the Cowboys, who were also in a desperate position, simply played a better four quarters.
Final Thoughts
While Reid’s comments will likely draw attention from the league office, they highlight the frustration of a team fighting for its playoff life. As the Chiefs look to run the table in their remaining games, their ability to reduce penalties and overcome questionable calls will be critical to any chance of a postseason appearance.
