As we gear up for the much-anticipated AFC Championship clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills, the spotlight should be solely on the on-field battles—particularly the exciting rivalry between quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Unfortunately, some of that attention has been diverted to discussions about the referees who will oversee this high-stakes game, set to take place on Sunday.
Clete Blakeman has been named as the head referee for this matchup. Now, while referee crews often bring an air of neutrality to the game, some chatter suggests that Kansas City might be at a disadvantage with Blakeman officiating. It’s worth noting that Blakeman was in charge during the 2018-19 AFC Championship, a game remembered for a controversial roughing the passer call on Chiefs’ defensive star Chris Jones. More recently, he oversaw Kansas City’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day, a game that left some questioning the calls made on the field.
In Mahomes’ career, he holds a 6-5 record when Blakeman’s crew is officiating, suggesting no overwhelming advantage or disadvantage. However, Blakeman’s games this season have seen home teams win only 31.25% of the time, compared to the league average of 54.26%. He’s known for calling an average of 15.75 penalties per game, which is higher than the norm, potentially adding nearly an extra 30 yards in penalties. A peculiar trend emerges as well—home teams under Blakeman seem to receive more penalties than their visitors.
Should Chiefs fans be worried? The short answer is, not really. At the end of the day, it’s up to Kansas City to deliver on the field. If Mahomes and his squad perform at their best, the officiating won’t stand in the way of a victory. Regardless of the referee lineup, the Chiefs will have to focus on their gameplay to secure a spot in the Super Bowl.
This game has all the makings of a classic showdown—two powerhouse teams with dynamic quarterbacks, each leading their squad in pursuit of football glory. While outside noise about the referees provides a subplot, the real story will unfold between the lines come game day.
