ESPN's Adam Schefter under fire for using Patrick Mahomes as reference for possible NFL change

Chase Daniel predicts who wins the AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter faced criticism on Saturday for his report about the league possibly considering using replay assist when it came to quarterback slides.

Schefter wrote on X, "For all those complaining that Patrick Mahomes gets too many calls, relief soon could be on the way." The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback was criticized for the late slide against the Houston Texans that led to an unnecessary roughness penalty after linebacker Henry To’oTo’o hit him right after he dropped to the ground.

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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes slides against Houston Texans linebacker Henry To'oTo'o during the AFC divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Jan. 18, 2025. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

Amid the controversy over the slide, head referee Clay Martin defended the call. He said there was forcible contact to Mahomes’ "hairline" on the other unnecessary roughness call.

NFL fans were upset with Schefter for using Mahomes as a reference point. Still, Schefter used statistics to back up his point. He compared penalties between the Chiefs and their playoff opponents over the course of their eight-game winning streak.

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Adam Schefter of ESPN’s "Monday Night Countdown" on the sideline prior to the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Nov. 21, 2022. (Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports)

According to researcher Paul Hembo, Kansas City’s opponents have been flagged for roughing the passer six times compared to zero times for the