PATRICK Mahomes has hit back at claims that the Kansas City Chiefs receive favorable calls from officials.
The Chiefs quarterback was put on the spot about officiating ahead of the AFC Championship Game.
Mahomes is preparing for a showdown with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills this Sunday.
Last weekend they beat the Houston Texans in the division round.
One call that went in Mahomes’ favor during that game was criticized by viewers.
Texans star Will Anderson Jr. was adjudged to have hit Mahomes in the head during the Chiefs’ 23-14 win.
Replays showed initial contact happened on the arm and chest of the Kansas City quarterback.
“We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game,” Texans defensive end Anderson Jr. said.
But Mahomes was defiant in his stance that officials don’t favor the Chiefs.
“I don’t feel that way,” he said Wednesday.
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“At the end of the day, the referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and as proper as they possibly can.
“And all you can do is go out there and play the game that you love as hard as you can and live with the results.
Patrick Mahomes sends clear message after Kansas City Chiefs become ‘villains’ of the NFL
“I think that’s what we preach here in Kansas City.
“You get new referees every year, you get new circumstances, and you never can really tell because every play’s different and that’s what makes the NFL so special.
“I feel like I’ve just continued to play the game, and I just try to win, and whatever happens kind of happens.”
Kansas City faces Buffalo having lost to them in the regular-season.
The defeat was one of their two losses in 2024 and came on the road.
Conference championship schedule
NFC Championship Game
Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles (Fox)
Sunday 26 January, 3 pm ET
AFC Championship Game
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (CBS)
Sunday 26 January, 6.30 pm ET
But the Chiefs have the Bills’ number in the playoffs having won last year.
And Mahomes will hope to bank on home advantage this Sunday.
“It’s just two really good football teams going up against each other,” Mahomes said.
“They have great players at every level on both sides of the ball and they’re well coached.
“And so, when you play great football teams like that, it kind of usually ends with that split type of deal there.
“We’ve been able to beat them in the playoffs and they’ve got us in the regular season.
“If you look at the games, every game’s close, so it just comes out to a play here or there that makes an impact on the outcome.
“When you look at the great rivalries of the NFL, it comes with this.
“It comes with playing each other every year in the regular season and it comes with playing in the playoffs.”
