Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was lucky to avoid injury after a late hit by the Miami Dolphins in their NFL game on Sunday. Mahomes was running out of bounds in the third quarter when he was hit by Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker, who appeared to lower his shoulder and make contact with Mahomes’ head. The hit knocked Mahomes to the ground and out of the sideline, but no penalty was called by the referee.
The incident sparked outrage among Chiefs fans and NFL viewers, who questioned how the officials missed such a blatant foul on one of the league’s star players. Many took to social media to express their disbelief and frustration, accusing the referees of bias and incompetence. Some also pointed out that Mahomes often gets favorable calls from the officials, but not this time.
Mahomes, who is the reigning Super Bowl MVP and one of the frontrunners for this year’s MVP award, seemed unfazed by the hit and continued to play. He finished the game with 28 completions on 40 attempts for 316 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Chiefs to a 34-31 victory over the Dolphins. The win improved the Chiefs’ record to 9-1, the best in the AFC.
After the game, Mahomes addressed the hit and said he was not hurt by it. He also praised Baker for being a good player and said he did not think the hit was intentional. “He’s a heck of a player. He made a lot of plays today. I don’t think he was trying to do anything malicious there. He was just playing hard,” Mahomes said, according to [NFL.com].
Baker, who had nine tackles and a sack in the game, also commented on the hit and said he did not mean to harm Mahomes. He said he was just trying to make a play and stop him from getting a first down. “I’m not a dirty player. I respect him as a player. He’s a great player. I was just trying to make a play for my team,” Baker said, according to [ESPN].
The NFL has not announced any disciplinary action for Baker or the officials as of yet. The league has been cracking down on hits to the head and neck area of players, especially quarterbacks, in recent years. Such hits can result in fines, suspensions, or ejections, depending on the severity and intent.
