Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid during a press conference in advance of Super Bowl LIX at New Orleans Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Many Eagles fans believe Super Bowl 57 against the Chiefs was decided, in part, by a questionable flag near the end of the game. Those fans worry that something similar will happen during Super Bowl 59.
Unsurprisingly, Kansas City head coach Andy Reid is not concerned.
The last time Eagles and Chiefs played in the superbowl the Eagles got robbed of a win by a phantom holding call.pic.twitter.com/lHeEZ9B5t9 https://t.co/rGHb00YwWM
"They don't favor one side over the other," Reid said to reporters on Thursday. "That's not how this thing goes."
"It’s a good story, but that’s not the reality of how it works," Reid added. "You'd be insulting them to think that’s what they do. They go out, and they call it like they see it. There's some, as a coach, I sit there and I go, ‘I don’t agree with it.' There are some I agree with. That's how it goes."
Well, maybe. But decisions seem to go in the Chiefs' favor quite a bit. The team has developed a reputation for a reason.
Insane: A reporter asked Patrick Mahomes who his favorite Referee is that helps the #Chiefs win games:
“For your whole career you’ve had so many great people help you win, so who is your favorite ref?”
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/4CyYs0O1Ob
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 4, 2025
To be blunt, it's insane to say the Super Bowl outcome is "rigged." But KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes regularly begs for flags, and frequently gets them. The man has perfected the art of inducing a roughing the passer call.
Here's Mahomes playing games along the sideline, sort of going out of bounds but clearly waiting for a hit and a flag.
Patrick Mahomes flopping...
This should be a flag 🤦♂️pic.twitter.com/pFOUuGoEXz
And here's Mahomes with a late slide, drawing a flag as two defenders hit nothing but each other.
Legitimately have seen it all…
Mahomes slides late, hardly gets touched as both Texans players hit each other & they’re flagged for unnecessary roughness.
Be less blatant @NFL. It’s unbearable. pic.twitter.com/pXIDrXwGOK
Considering Mahomes' antics and the Chiefs' knack for getting favorable calls in crucial moments, it's entirely reasonable for Eagles fans to be concerned about officiating.
But if the Birds play their best football, that concern can be mitigated. The team's biggest takeaway from two years ago should be 100% clear: Don't let the game come down to one call.
