Will Anderson Jr. irked by penalty calls after Texans' loss - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said he feels the referees were against his team in Saturday's 23-14 AFC divisional round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Texans' defense was flagged for two controversial penalties at separate points when they contacted Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Both extended Kansas City drives, leading to a crucial 10 points for the Chiefs.

«We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game,» Anderson said afterward.

Anderson was flagged for roughing the passer on a Mahomes incomplete pass to tight end Travis Kelce on third down during the Chiefs' second drive of the game. Anderson appeared to hit Mahomes in the upper neck area shortly after he released the pass. That drive ended in a field goal to put the Chiefs up 6-3.

In the third quarter, Mahomes scrambled on a first down and slid while Texans defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi and linebacker Henry To'oTo'o collided with him, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty. The Chiefs took advantage of the extra yards and capped the possession with a touchdown to put them up 20-12.

Fatukasi told ESPN he didn't remember the play for which he was flagged, and To'oTo'o said, «It is what it is.»

When Houston coach DeMeco Ryans was asked about the controversial calls, he made a subtle remark. But Ryans acknowledged the «self-inflicted mistakes» sunk the Texans' chances of advancing to the AFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history.

«We knew going into this game, man, it was us versus everybody. And when I say everybody, it's everybody,» Ryans said. «Knowing that going into this game, what we were up against, we can't make the mistakes that we made. Whether it's special teams not