The Kansas City Chiefs are struggling in a way we are not accustomed to seeing with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid at the helm. With a 2-3 record, the Chiefs have looked vulnerable for the first time in years, which is a shocking development considering how dominant they have looked during their recent dynastic run.
Anytime there’s a dynasty in any professional sport, haters are going to come out in flocks, and that’s certainly been true for Kansas City. One common complaint fans have had is that the Chiefs have received favorable calls from officials during Mahomes’ time under center. The team’s supporters have vehemently denied those claims, but a new study indicates that those criticisms may actually have some weight to them.
Study Claims Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Benefit from Favorable Officiating
Since taking over as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback in 2018, Mahomes has led his squad on a dynastic run of success. Kansas City has made it to the AFC Championship Game in each of Mahomes’ seven seasons as a starter, advancing to the Super Bowl five times during that stretch. In those five appearances, K.C. has won three Super Bowl championships.
There’s no doubt that the Chiefs have succeeded thanks to an incredibly talented roster and a coaching staff that knows how to get the most out of its players. Fans of the NFL have been quick to note just how many favorable calls Kansas City receives along the way, though, which has resulted in even more haters spawning with each win they earn.
Typically, complaints about potential officiating biases aren’t well-founded. However, a new study from the University of Texas at El Paso indicates otherwise. Instead, the findings indicate that the Chiefs have received favorable officiating from NFL referees during Mahomes’ run in charge of the team, with these calls increasing in frequency during the postseason.
“The study shows that during the playoffs, which the research team identified as the NFL’s most commercially valuable period, penalties against opposing defenses of the Chiefs’ offense were significantly more likely to result in first downs, cover more yardage and fall into subjective categories such as roughing the passer or pass interference.” UTEP wrote in its news release.
“Importantly, these effects were absent for the Tom Brady–era New England Patriots and other recent Super Bowl contenders, suggesting the phenomenon is unique to Kansas City’s emergence as a television ratings powerhouse.”
Why Would the NFL Give Chiefs Beneficial Officiating?
GettyKansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Week 5.
While some of the calls may be purely coincidental, a clear trend has emerged that indicates the league may actually be giving the Chiefs some favorable calls in an effort to help them enjoy more success. The easiest reason to explain this could be that the league is hoping that the more games Kansas City plays, the more revenue they would generate, as K.C. has quickly become one of the most popular markets in the NFL.
So far, the officiating hasn’t helped the Chiefs out, as they have lost more games than they have won. Getting back on track after losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football is going to be easier said than done, too, because Kansas City has a matchup with the Detroit Lions on its hands in Week 6. Kickoff for that game is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday Night Football, and all eyes will be on the refs to see how they call the game.
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