Flagging the Refs: Students have mixed reactions to the Chiefs’ perfect record and the referee’s relationship to the team

“I think if a team has a perfect record seven games deep into the season, something is wrong,” Junior Addi Hall said. 

Hall doesn’t care about football or bother to learn about it. All she knows is the Chiefs are on top — and she’s right. After dominating the 2024 season, Superbowl LVIII left KC fans feeling more ride-or-die than ever. Fans are either fully devoted to the team, or hate it with a passion and the latter is more prevalent among NFL fans. 

The controversy began after week one against the Baltimore Ravens when the game was decided on Isaiah Likely’s toe length. Every Chiefs win this season has been relatively close, with each game being within a touchdown and extra point. 

These close calls made by the refs have more of an effect on the game in comparison to an early-game flag because of the make-or-brake nature of the call. If Likely’s toe was in bounds, the Ravens would’ve won the game. 

When the Chiefs went head-on against the Bengals in week two of the regular season, a pass interference penalty was called on Bengals defensive back Daijahn Anthony. Bengals fans swarmed to the internet, voicing their displeasure for the call. X user ‘TylerBoydSzn,’ among many other users, made several viral posts regarding the call. 

“This will go down as the worst pass interference call ever,” the user said. 

In the past, the Chiefs have had run-ins with defensive flags that benefit them. When KC defeated the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, Eagles cornerback James Bradberry was called for defensive holding on a crucial third-and-8 with just 1:54 remaining in the game. After the automatic first down, Harrison Butker kicked a 27-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining to win the game — extremely similar to Butker’s 51-yard game-winning field goal in week two of the regular season. 

Junior and offensive lineman Hank Hunter argues the Chiefs’ relentlessness solely stems from the usage of their resources.

“The way [the Chiefs] keep winning is our defense and our run game,” Hunter said. “NFL teams are more worried about shutting down Mahomes’s explosiveness and playmaking ability which is leaving the run game wide open.” 

The Chiefs currently have 1,651 passing yards for eight touchdowns — yet their 855 rushing yards have 10 total touchdowns, proving their strength in their run game. 

Though game-changing calls in the final minutes of the matchup are uncommon, that doesn’t mean that they don’t happen to the top-ranked team in the league. 

Junior Kate Jones, a prominent Chicago Bears fan, heavily critiques the Chiefs’ win rate, claiming the statistics speak for themselves. 

“Patrick Mahomes currently has nine interceptions and only eight touchdowns this season,” Jones said. “Not to mention all the calls in favor of [the Chiefs] — I think it’s about time the league recognizes that they’ve let this team get too good.”

After trading for Josh Uche and DeAndre Hopkins — with speculation of New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore — the Chiefs are on a path to get that much better. KC is projected by NFL rankings alone to have a flawless regular season record, a feat that Tom Brady and the Patriots last accomplished in 2007. 

There’s been 17 years without this achievement, and 17 games to complete it, 10 of which are still to come.  

Hunter acknowledges the faults in the Chiefs as well but believes their strengths will outweigh their weaknesses in the season to come. 

“Mahomes is far behind his prime playing days, and our receiving corps is mediocre at best,” Hunter said. “Kelce is staying consistent though, if he can keep it up I think our record will reflect that down the line.”