Amid Rigging Claims, NFL Accused of ‘Sneaky’ Referee Decision for Chiefs-Bills Game [WATCH]
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The NFL is under fire once again for what fans and analysts are calling questionable[1] refereeing decisions, this time ahead of the highly anticipated AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Accusations of bias and “rigging” in favor of the Chiefs have been a recurring theme this season, but some observers believe the league’s referee assignment for the game may actually benefit the Bills.
Throughout the 2023 season, fans and even some players have voiced concerns over perceived preferential treatment for the two-time defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.
These complaints came to a head during the Chiefs’ divisional round victory over the Houston Texans, where two roughing-the-passer penalties on quarterback Patrick Mahomes sparked widespread debate.
Jan 18, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) gets ready before a 2025 AFC divisional round game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
In one play, Texans defender Henry To’oTo’o and teammate Folorunso Fatukasi were flagged for unnecessary roughness after colliding with each other while attempting to tackle Mahomes.
The penalty, which resulted in a 15-yard gain for Kansas City, was criticized by ESPN commentator Troy Aikman and the network’s rules analyst Russell Yurk as unwarranted.
“Oh, come on! I mean, he’s a runner. I could not disagree with that one more. He barely gets hit.” – Troy Aikman
“The two Houston players hit each other. That should not have been a foul.” – Russell Yurk
This week, attention shifted to the league’s choice of referee for the AFC Championship Game: Clete Blakeman.
A viral video from a Bleacher Report content creator highlighted Blakeman’s officiating history, suggesting his presence could benefit the Bills rather than the Chiefs.
Blakeman’s track record with the Chiefs and Bills reveals a stark contrast.
Since Patrick Mahomes became Kansas City’s starting quarterback in 2018, the Chiefs are 5-6 in games officiated by Blakeman, while the Bills boast a 5-2 record during the same period.
Furthermore, Pro Football Reference reports that Blakeman called 53.17% of his penalties on home teams this season, nearly 4% above the league average.
Blakeman’s officiating crew also led the league in penalties called per game this season, averaging 15.8 penalties per contest, according to NFLPenalties.com.
However, for this playoff game, Blakeman will not be working with his usual crew.
Blakeman’s most recent Chiefs game was their 2023 Christmas Day loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
He officiated only one Bills game this season, a matchup Buffalo won.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mahomes rejected the notion that the Chiefs receive preferential treatment from referees.
“I don’t feel that way,” he said. “The referees are doing their best to call the game as fair and as proper as they can. All you can do is go out there and play the game you love as hard as you can and live with the results.”
Mahomes emphasized that his focus remains on playing hard and letting the game unfold naturally.
“For me, it’s to go out there, play hard, try to do whatever I can to win the football game, and then live with the results based on my effort and the way that we played the game,” he added.
Sunday’s AFC Championship Game will be held at Arrowhead Stadium, with the Chiefs looking to secure another Super Bowl appearance.
The Bills, led by quarterback Josh Allen, aim to upset the defending champions and punch their ticket to the big game.
The debate over refereeing decisions and perceived biases will undoubtedly loom over the game, but both teams will need to focus on execution to advance.
As the NFL continues to face scrutiny over its officiating, fans will be watching closely to see how the game unfolds under Blakeman’s leadership.
