The Kansas City Chiefs haven't been at their best on offense this season. Drops have plagued the receiving corps while the lack of a true No. 1 receiver has been noticeable. But the bigger problem is how mistakes from other positions also seem to pop up at the worst possible moments. Even when a pass catcher like Rashee Rice makes something happen, something goes wrong.
During the Chiefs' playoff matchup with the Dolphins, Rice had an impressive touchdown called back because of a block in the back penalty on right tackle Jawaan Taylor.
Instead of seven points and a 10-point lead, KC had to settle for a field goal to go up 13-7.
Jawaan Taylor commits a block in the back and takes away a Chiefs touchdown. #MIAvsKC pic.twitter.com/NTcQhI4aZk
ā Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) January 14, 2024
The costly penalty wasn't the first Chiefs fans have experienced from Taylor. The block in the back was his 17th. He picked up an 18th later in the half with a false start. That's six clear of the next most penalized player in the NFL.
The mountain of penalties he has compiled this season had Chiefs fans on Twitter wondering why he even plays.
Jawaan Taylor's penalty problems infuriate Chiefs fans
Jawaan Taylor has the most penalties in a season (including postseason) for an offensive player since Chester Pitts (2003). #Chiefs
ā Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) January 14, 2024
The weekly costly Juwaan Taylor penalty. A Chiefs staple.
ā Carrington Harrison (@cdotharrison) January 14, 2024
Jawaan Taylor when it comes to getting penalties pic.twitter.com/MDQkq5i733
ā lets go chiefs (11-6) (26-12) (@buckschiefsfan) January 14, 2024
Dude. Itās always Jawaan Taylor.
ā Austin Eckert (@AustinCEckert) January 14, 2024
We need to move on from him next year. His constant penalties hold us back from being successful.
"Stop getting penalties."
ā FanDuel (@FanDuel) January 14, 2024
Jawaan Taylor: pic.twitter.com/7msXMCR8L9
Jawaan Taylor's consistency is admirable.
ā Arrowhead Addict (@ArrowheadAddict) January 14, 2024
Not all Chiefs fans were convinced that was a mistake by Taylor though. Some argued that he was shoved in the back first, making the contact he made on the play not worthy of a penalty.
Jawaan Taylor got pushed into him?? What did this man do to these refs
ā SNKC (@snkcmo) January 14, 2024
Jawaan Taylor got shoved in the back, leading to his block in the back. What is he supposed to do there?
ā Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) January 14, 2024
A disgustingly bad call on Jawaan Taylor. The witch hunt continues.
ā Ryan (@Rut23KC) January 14, 2024
Each person will have to be the judge of that. Either way, the refs threw a flag for the block in the back and the Chiefs had to settle for three instead of seven. In a playoff game, those four points could mean the difference between moving on and going home for good.
Rice opened the scoring in the first quarter with an 11-yard touchdown to cap a stellar opening drive for the Chiefs. Less than a minute after Harrison Butker booted a 28-yard field goal to put his team up 10-0, Tyreek Hill caught a 53-yard touchdown to pull the Dolphins back within three. Kansas City closed out the first half with two field goals to press their advantage, but players and fans will know they could have been up by much more.