PACKERS HEAD COACH MATT LaFLEUR PRAISES PANTHERS’ STAR RB

A storm after Week 9 — and Mahomes stands tall The Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 9 clash with the Buffalo Bills was supposed to be another chapter in Patrick Mahomes’ legacy of comebacks. Instead, it turned into one of the most talked-about controversies of the 2025 NFL season.A questionable intentional grounding call against Mahomes, made by referee Carl Cheffers and his crew, changed the momentum — and possibly the outcome — of the entire game. The Chiefs, once charging downfield with rhythm and fire, suddenly found themselves pushed back 10 yards and stripped of a crucial drive. What followed was frustration, disbelief, and an ending that left the Kingdom stunned. “This isn’t the end,” Mahomes said, eyes full of determination. After the loss, Mahomes didn’t point fingers — but his tone spoke louder than words. Patrick Mahomes to @RobCollinsTV: "We've got to learn from it .. we've got to do it now. There's no easy game coming up and there's no chance we can take any losses." #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/3IeF0ud7FO — Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) November 3, 2025 “This isn’t the end. It’s a reminder that we have to move forward. We had chances, we had mistakes — and now we’ve got to respond the right way.” It was a classic Mahomes moment: calm under chaos, strong in defeat, refusing to let controversy define his team. A call that changed everything The play everyone’s talking about came in the second quarter.Under pressure from Buffalo’s defense, Mahomes threw the ball forward as he was being hit. Cheffers flagged him for intentional grounding, claiming there was no eligible receiver in range — a call that cost Kansas City both yardage and momentum. However, slow-motion replay showed Von Miller’s hand deflecting the pass at the line of scrimmage — which should have made it an incomplete pass, not a penalty.Cameras caught Andy Reid arguing on the sideline, trying to challenge the ruling, but NFL rules don’t allow review of whether a ball was tipped. Former referee Gene Steratore said on CBS: “I’ve never seen a situation like this. Replay Assist should have helped, but the current rulebook doesn’t allow it.” The NFL under pressure Since the final whistle, the NFL has faced intense scrutiny over the officiating. According to multiple reports, the league’s central office is reviewing Carl Cheffers’ handling of the situation — though no disciplinary action has been taken yet. An NFL spokesperson said in a brief statement: “We are aware of the reactions and are reviewing the situation internally to ensure all procedures were followed correctly.” Still, for Chiefs fans, that explanation wasn’t enough.Social media exploded with claims of “rigged officiating”, and the name Carl Cheffers trended across platforms for hours. What’s next for Mahomes and the Chiefs? Despite the storm, Mahomes has already shifted his focus to the road ahead.The loss dropped Kansas City’s record, but not their confidence. With key matchups ahead — including divisional battles that could decide playoff seeding — Mahomes insists the team’s resolve remains unshaken. “We’ve been here before. We’ve faced worse. What defines us isn’t what happens in one game — it’s how we respond to it.” Those words hit like a promise — not just to his teammates, but to every fan wearing red and gold. The Chiefs may have fallen in Week 9, but Mahomes’ message echoes louder than the scoreboard: this is not over.With controversy swirling and questions surrounding officiating, the heart of Kansas City’s leader stays locked on one thing — the next game, the next fight, the next chance to prove who they really are. Because in the Kingdom, every setback is just the setup for another comeback.