Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico took to the broadcast booth Thursday night to call an exciting AFC matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens. The game came down to the wire, with the Chiefs securing a dramatic 27-20 victory, largely thanks to a last-second defensive stand that saw Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely miss a crucial opportunity to score the game-winning touchdown by stepping out of bounds.
However, it wasn’t just the action on the field that drew attention. Collinsworth’s commentary, particularly his repeated praise of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, stirred controversy among NFL fans. During one key moment late in the game, Kansas City was trying to convert a first down to run out the clock and avoid giving Baltimore one last chance at a comeback. Mahomes attempted a pass over the middle, only to have it deflected by a Ravens defender. In a quick reflex, Mahomes snagged the tipped ball out of the air, preventing an interception in what could have been a critical mistake in the final minutes.
While the Ravens’ defense made a pivotal stop on that play, Collinsworth instead focused his praise on Mahomes, commending him for “out-jumping” the defenders and keeping the play alive. This sparked frustration among many fans who felt the Ravens deserved more credit for forcing Kansas City into a tough situation rather than hearing more admiration for Mahomes.
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Fans quickly took to social media to call out Collinsworth for what they perceived as favoritism toward Mahomes. One fan posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Defense makes a great play and Collinsworth only praises Mahomes lol.” Another fan tweeted, “Cowherd glazing a near pick from Mahomes,” while a third commented, “Cris Collinsworth found a way to praise Mahomes on that play.”
The backlash wasn’t just limited to that one instance. Throughout the broadcast, Collinsworth frequently lauded Mahomes, which, for some viewers, became tiresome, especially for those who weren’t rooting for Kansas City. Despite Mahomes being a three-time Super Bowl champion and widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the league, the constant praise from Collinsworth began to rub some fans the wrong way, feeling as though it overshadowed the Ravens’ defensive efforts.
While it’s undeniable that Mahomes made a smart, heads-up play to avoid a potentially game-changing interception, fans were quick to point out that this should have been a moment to acknowledge the Ravens’ defense for stepping up when it mattered most. Instead, Collinsworth’s focus remained on Mahomes, leaving many to wonder if the broadcaster’s admiration for the Chiefs star had crossed into the territory of bias.
For neutral fans or those supporting the Ravens, the persistent Mahomes praise made the game’s broadcast feel one-sided. “It gets tiring listening to him, especially if you’re not a fan of the Chiefs,” one fan noted, summing up the general sentiment among those who felt that Collinsworth’s enthusiasm for Mahomes overshadowed other critical aspects of the game.
Despite the criticism, Collinsworth is known for his detailed analysis and insightful commentary. However, this latest incident has added to a growing conversation among NFL fans about perceived favoritism in sports commentary, particularly when it comes to superstar athletes like Mahomes.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see whether Collinsworth adjusts his tone or if fans will continue to call out moments where they feel the praise is disproportionately focused on certain players.
In the end, Mahomes’ quick thinking likely played a role in preserving the Chiefs’ victory, but many fans believe the Ravens’ defense deserved more credit for their efforts in a game that went down to the final seconds.
