I have to move on bro, getting ready for the Big Dance.
I'll talk with you after we put on a clinic at the Super Bowl.
Go Chiefs, let's make history!
Posted on 01/27/2025 8:20:21 PM PST by lasereye
The only thing hotter than a ticket for the Bills-Chiefs AFC title game might be football fans' hatred for referees' perceived partiality toward the Chiefs.
I caught wind of a penalty trend from Warren Sharp (Sharp Football Analysis) via ESPN and had to see for myself just how rare it was historically. Turns out, Kansas City is in rare air. The Chiefs have gone 11 straight playoff games without committing more penalties than their opponents, the longest streak by any team in the last 30 years.
The only teams with longer streaks in playoff history were the 1970-82 Dolphins (18) and 1984-91 Broncos (12).
That's right. Since the 2021 postseason, the Chiefs have more penalties than their opponent zero times in 11 playoff games (0%). During the regular season in that span, they have more penalties than their opponents in 25 of 68 games (37%).
That is a very abnormal disparity in the playoffs, even with the relatively small sample.
If you look at the entire Patrick Mahomes era as a starter (since 2018), the Chiefs are second-worst in penalty yard differential during the regular season, but best in the playoffs.
This, of course, comes on the heels of a public outcry after two very questionable hits on Mahomes were flagged from Saturday's win over the Texans. Not to mention, Mahomes' laughable flop later in the game.
For the record, Mahomes has not gotten the most roughing the passer and unnecessary roughness calls in the league since 2018.
In fact, Josh Allen has been on the receiving end of more roughing the passer and unnecessary roughness calls than Mahomes in each of the last 7 seasons, including playoffs. The total in that span is 61 for Allen, 39 for Mahomes. They are both still among the league leaders since 2018.
Complaints about penalties against Mahomes are probably overblown because of the gravity of the situations we have seen them in. It's still hard to chalk up the overall Chiefs penalty disparity to great coaching. We are talking about ELEVEN straight playoff games they haven't had more penalties than their opponents.
Needless to say, all eyes will be on the referees in Sunday's AFC title game.
I was hoping that Detroit’s long suffering fans would get to the big one this year.
I was rooting for the Lions too — maybe next year??
Sure it could be. But that seems less likely based on this, which I put in bold above:
If you look at the entire Patrick Mahomes era as a starter (since 2018), the Chiefs are second-worst in penalty yard differential during the regular season, but best in the playoffs.
Pretty everyone agrees the Bills got the first downs - especially the second one. It’s also clear the ball hit the ground on Worthy’s catch. Romo said so. Maybe he’s a Chiefs hater.
“It’s scripted… they will win the Super Bowl and he will retire on the field & propose to me.” pic.twitter.com/kFPBjCkW9F— AB (@AB84) January 28, 2025
That’s part of the “show”, turning the Chiefs into the bad guys.
That’s why the NFL more and more resembles WWF Wrestling.
I can’t disagree with that.
CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore said he thought that was the incorrect call. Steratore said he thought Allen crossed the line for a first down by “a third of the football” and that the Bills should have maintained possession.
Supposedly, the league has been working on the chip in the ball thing for awhile. The ball being oblong shaped is problematic.
After review, the ruling stood as called.
If the officials favor the Chiefs as alleged, then that would logically prove nothing. You’re making a “Don’t believe your lying eyes” argument.
Every Chief’s fan clearly saw he was short I assume. Otherwise, nobody.
What's an "opposing Chiefs fan"? If you mean anyone who saw that he got the first down, like Steratore, then that would be a 100% accurate statement. It would be true by how you defined "opposing Chiefs fan". Of course that definition is idiotic.
I don’t understand why they can’t simply put a small chip on the ball that can mark where the forward progress is.
Here's a view from above that we were never shown, which demonstrates that he got it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy2PDXHES1A
They also show another spot that people aren't even talking about where the Bills receiver got the first down but was marked short.
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