KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Upon postgame film review, sometimes the NFL vindicates a player called for a significant penalty by not issuing a fine.
That’s what happened to Jawaan Taylor and the Chiefs after their 23-20 overtime win over Indianapolis. And while not fining Taylor won’t restore Travis Kelce’s rushing touchdown, it was a small gesture of acknowledgement that the officials shouldn’t have flagged the tackle.
Aug 22, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (74) at the line of scrimmage against the Chicago Bears during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
With 14 seconds left in the first quarter, the Chiefs had second-and-goal from the Indianapolis 4-yard line. Kansas City shifted into a four-man backfield with Rashee Rice and Kareem Hunt flanking Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes several yards behind the big tight end.
Kelce took the direct snap, waited for blocks on the right side and snuck into the end zone. The play would’ve marked his third career rushing touchdown and first in four years if not for the penalty – personal foul, facemask on Taylor.
Nov 23, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Indianapolis Colts safety Cam Bynum (0) tackles Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) in the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Film showed Taylor indeed grabbing Colts defensive end Kwity Paye above the neck and spinning him away from Kelce, but the contact wasn’t to Paye’s facemask. It was to his collar, inside the frame, and shouldn’t have been called. The league acknowledged as much at week’s end when it didn’t fine Taylor.
McDuffie, Suamataia docked
Trent McDuffie wasn’t so lucky, though. The cornerback appeared on Saturday’s list of Week 12 fines, docked $11,593 for grabbing a facemask on a play that did not draw a flag.
Nov 23, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) makes a catch against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) in the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Early in the first quarter of that Colts game, the league saw on film McDuffie grab the facemask of rookie tight end Tyler Warren. Although McDuffie made the third-down stop short of the sticks, he wound up a little lighter in the wallet.
Also, while Kingsley Suamataia dodged a fine at Denver in Week 11, he didn’t dodge charitable contributions two weeks in a row. The NFL this week docked the second-year Chiefs lineman $8,108 for an illegal blindside block. The play occurred in the Colts game, on a fourth-quarter screen pass to Brashard Smith.
Sep 28, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia (76) reacts during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
On the play, Suamataia got in front of Smith, who wound up gaining 22 yards on the pass, and peeled back to pick off former Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward. Although the hit didn’t seem egregious or particularly nefarious, by definition it was illegal because Suamataia hit Ward with the lineman’s shoulders squared toward his own goal line.
The play drew a 15-yard personal foul, temporarily derailing the Chiefs, but they were able to overcome the infraction and punch in their only touchdown of the game later in the drive.
Developing nastiness that coaches love in an offensive guard, Suamataia was not fined the week prior in Denver when he was called for illegal hands to the face on a play that ripped the helmet off the head of Broncos defensive end Malcolm Roach.
Jan 5, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos defensive tackle Malcolm Roach (97) before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Full list of Week 12 NFL fines
Here’s the full list of NFL fines listed alphabetically by team; includes player, quarter and time of play, fine category and fine amount.
ARI, Andre Baccellia, 1, 15:00, Unnecessary Roughness, Away from the play, $5,722
ATL, Feleipe Franks, 4, 12:13, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Taunting, $8,111
BAL, Dre’Mont Jones, 4, 1:56, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Violent gesture, $14,055
BUF, Reggie Gilliam, 1, 1:38, Unnecessary Roughness, Use of the helmet, $11,111
CHI, D.J. Moore, 3, 9:47, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Taunting, $11,593
DET, Brian Branch, 1, 1:49, Unnecessary Roughness, Hit on a defenseless player, $23,186
DET, Jack Campbell, 4, 4:45, Unnecessary Roughness, Hip-drop tackle, $17,389
DET, Dan Skipper, 3, 4:54, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Taunting, $6,917
JAX, Dennis Gardeck, 1, 15:00, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Taunting, $11,275
JAX, Robert Hainsey, 3, 9:25, Unnecessary Roughness, Low block, $12,172
KC, Trent McDuffie, 1, 10:39, Unnecessary Roughness, Facemask, $11,593
KC, Kingsley Suamataia, 4, 12:22, Unnecessary Roughness, Blindside block, $8,108
SF, Jauan Jennings, 4, 0:37, Unnecessary Roughness, Striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing, $12,172
TEN, Jihad Ward, 1, 5:45, Unnecessary Roughness, Striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing, $7,806
Never again miss breaking news from Chiefs Kingdom. Sign up for an absolutely FREE newsletter on your beloved team, arriving in your email with the latest information. SIGN UP HERE NOW.