Report: NFL expected to expand replay assist over offseason, could apply to QB slide

The NFL is expected to expand its replay assist next season to plays that could include the quarterback slide, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. The news comes amid many fans expressing outrage over certain calls that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has received in the playoffs.

Houston Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o was called for unnecessary roughness in a Divisional Round matchup against the Chiefs last week as he appeared to hit Mahomes mid-slide. However, the replay showed little actual contact and the flag drew criticism from broadcaster Troy Aikman.

The ESPN analyst called for the league to change the rule in the offseason and it appears the NFL may have been listening.

The NFL has been using replay assist since 2021 to allow replay officials and designated members of the officiation department to assist with on-field calls in limited game situations. It was initially used for things such as figuring out where to spot the ball and confirming whether a pass was completed.

This past season, the league expanded replay assist to to add additional areas in which information could be provided when there was a penalty flag already on the field, including fouls for hits on the sidelines heading out of bounds, fouls for blows to the head of a quarterback and elements of intentional grounding.

The flag on To’oTo’o was not the only questionable call from last week’s playoff game between the Chiefs and Texans. Houston defensive end Will Anderson was also flagged for roughing the passer and spoke out against the call postgame.

The NFL itself seemed to admit that the penalties should not have been called as it was reported that neither To’oTo’o nor Anderson were fined for the plays. League leaders will officially discuss the possibility of expanding replay assist during their annual offseason meeting, which is set to take place in March.

Patrick Mahomes addresses belief he receives extra protection from NFL officials

Mahomes, speaking with the media on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills, said he doesn’t feel like he gets extra protection from referees.

“I don’t feel that way,” Mahomes said, via Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. “I just try to play football at the end of the day. The referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and as proper as they can.”

Regardless of the controversies, Kansas City finds itself one win away from again reaching the Super Bowl, where it will look to become the first team in NFL history to threepeat as champs. First, the Chiefs will have to get past the Bills on Sunday.