Amidst the scrutiny over officiating, Mahomes remains focused on preparing for the upcoming AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills, prioritizing the game itself over concerns about penalties.

In the recent divisional-round playoff victory against the Houston Texans, officials penalized the Texans for hits on Patrick Mahomes, sparking discussions about potential favoritism towards the star quarterback.

Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. voiced his frustration, suggesting that they anticipated having to contend with both the Chiefs and the referees during the playoff matchup.

Despite the controversy surrounding officiating, Mahomes maintains that NFL officials strive to officiate fairly and do not provide him or the Chiefs with special treatment.

During the game, Mahomes faced criticism for allegedly exaggerating contact to draw a penalty, a point highlighted by former NFL quarterback Troy Aikman.

Contrary to the narrative of favoritism, statistics reveal that the Chiefs have the seventh-worst penalty differential in close games decided by one score since 2018.

Over the past three seasons, including playoffs, the Chiefs have actually been penalized for 147 more yards than their opponents, further challenging the perception of preferential treatment.

Since Mahomes took over as the starter in 2018, opponents have gained 20 additional first downs through penalties on critical third or fourth downs, indicating that the Chiefs do not enjoy an advantage in key moments.