Houston Texans’ Derek Barnett Fined by NFL for Illegal Hit on Patrick Mahomes

The Houston Texans received more bad news as defensive end Derek Barnett was fined by the NFL for a hit during the Week 16 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. This adds to the team’s woes during the holidays, especially after their blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.

Details of the Fine

Derek Barnett was fined for a blow to the head/neck area of Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ star quarterback. The incident occurred in the second quarter with 8:04 remaining on the clock. At the time, the referees threw a flag and penalized Barnett for “Roughing the Passer.” However, the NFL deemed the in-game penalty insufficient and has now fined Barnett $11,176.

In Week 16, the NFL issued 23 fines in total, two of which were for “Roughing the Passer.” Notably, Barnett’s fine was the least severe, while Kyzir White of the Arizona Cardinals received a $16,883 fine.

Texans’ Current Situation

The Texans are currently on a two-game losing streak following defeats to the Ravens and Chiefs. Despite this, the team has clinched the AFC South title, securing a playoff spot. Although their performance has been inconsistent, the Texans can take pride in being back-to-back AFC South champions.

Their final regular season game will be against the Tennessee Titans, presenting an opportunity to regain momentum before the playoffs.

The Texans may not be playing at their best right now, but they can still hold their heads high as the top team in their division – a difficult feat in a highly competitive league like the NFL.