Patrick Mahomes found himself in the spotlight once again, not just for his skills, but for his role in what’s quickly becoming an NFL rules debate. After a sideline maneuver that left San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters in a difficult position in Week 7, Mahomes’ tactics against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8 have reignited questions: At what point does Mahomes benefit from calls that other players wouldn’t receive?
The Play That Started It All
The discussion began when Mahomes made a career-best 33-yard run down the sideline against the 49ers. Winters, positioned to make a hit, pulled back, assuming Mahomes would step out of bounds. However, Mahomes veered back onto the field, extending his run and leaving Winters in the dust. For defenders like Winters, erring on the side of caution when it comes to quarterbacks can be wise; the NFL is notoriously strict on late hits. But that caution creates a dilemma — allowing quarterbacks like Mahomes to exploit the rules without consequence.
Echoes of the Kenny Pickett Rule
Mahomes’ “fake out” move drew immediate comparisons to Kenny Pickett’s infamous fake slide in the 2021 ACC Championship game. Pickett’s slide faked out defenders, and the resulting rule change clarified that quarterbacks who fake giving themselves up risk penalty, given the deception. Many fans now call for a similar NFL rule, where a quarterback’s decision to feign a run out of bounds could be met with fewer restrictions on defenders attempting a tackle. This adjustment would give defenders more latitude when quarterbacks look like they’re opting out of a play but then stay inbounds.
Chaisson’s Hit Reignites the Debate
In Week 8, Raiders defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson was flagged for roughing the passer on a minor bump against Mahomes. The call seemed routine, but the incident felt like deja vu to many fans. Chaisson’s light contact contrasted sharply with what Winters could have been penalized for had he hit Mahomes the week prior. It left fans questioning why a gentle bump merited a flag when a potentially game-changing hit on a quarterback deceiving the sidelines went unchallenged.
The NFL’s Dilemma: Fairness and Safety
With quarterbacks like Mahomes pushing boundaries, the NFL faces a unique challenge. The rules that are supposed to protect quarterbacks are in place to prevent injury. However, if players use those protections to manipulate play on the field, it may put defenders in an impossible bind, forcing them to second-guess or hold back on big plays.
The NFL’s options here are limited but impactful:
- Rule Adjustment for Deceptive Moves: Similar to the college rule created after Pickett’s fake slide, the NFL could implement a rule penalizing quarterbacks who fake out-of-bounds runs.
- Empowering Officials for In-Play Interpretation: Officials could be given more discretion to assess situations on the field, potentially preventing quarterbacks from gaming the rules in ambiguous situations.
- Consistency on Roughing Calls: Re-evaluating what constitutes “roughing” the passer in edge cases could create more clarity for defenders, allowing them to make clean tackles even when quarterbacks appear close to giving up.
Looking Ahead
The question remains whether Mahomes’ moves will spark a new rule change, or if it’s simply a matter of referees clarifying what they’ll call in the future. The growing consensus is clear: defensive players need either more protection from penalties in ambiguous situations or stricter standards that prevent quarterbacks from blurring the line between playing it safe and taking advantage of defensive caution.
With the Chiefs’ star quarterback at the center of this debate, the NFL may need to adjust before playoff season to maintain fairness without compromising safety.
