The Kansas City Chiefs found themselves at the center of controversy during their Thanksgiving defeat to the Dallas Cowboys. A
questionable offensive pass interference call on Xavier Worthy wiped out a crucial 14-yard gain, sparking debate about officiating and its impact on the game.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy defended Worthy after the matchup, explaining that the wide receiver was simply running his route and that the defender initiated the contact.
“We went over it with the team this week, and I would tell them to do nothing,” Nagy said.
“Xavier was running his route, and the defender ran into him. If that play happened ten more times, I’d tell him to do it ten more times. He did it the right way.”
Penalties continue to haunt Kansas City
The controversial flag came just after a promising drive in the third quarter. Patrick Mahomes had connected with Hollywood Brown for a first down, only for the OPI penalty to push the Chiefs back to third-and-16.
The drive ended with a punt, and Kansas City did not score again until the fourth quarter, ultimately losing 31-28.
The call highlighted a broader issue for the Chiefs this season: penalties. Against Dallas, Kansas City was flagged ten times for 119 yards.
It has been a recurring problem, consistently stalling drives and costing the team valuable field position. Head coach Andy Reid acknowledged the need for improvement.
“The team knows we need to clean things up,” Reid said.
“Coaches have to do better, players have to do better. We were close, but we gave away too many opportunities.”
Through 13 games, the Chiefs have accumulated 86 penalties for 753 yards, averaging 7.2 penalties and nearly 63 yards per game. In contests with ten or more flags, the team is 0-4.
These numbers place them 21st in penalties per game and 26th in penalty yards per game.
With a 6-6 record, Kansas City must overcome these mistakes to keep playoff hopes alive.
Their focus now turns to Week 14 against the Houston Texans, where avoiding penalties will be critical if they hope to rebound.
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