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| NFL Refs Under Fire as Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes Seem to Get All the Lucky Calls (Image credit: X/@Uncle_JimmyD |
The zebras in the NFL are under serious fire. A bombshell study out of the University of Texas at El Paso just accused NFL refs of playing biased when it comes to making decisions on the Kansas City Chiefs. And the numbers don’t lie.
Researchers literally crunched over 13,000 penalty calls spanning nearly a decade to prove that Patrick Mahomes and his squad got the benefit of the doubt way more than anyone else.
NFL Refs Under Fire as Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes Seem to Get All the Lucky Calls
The controversy exploded after Sunday’s Chiefs-Lions showdown. Kansas City had zero accepted penalties, while Detroit was flagged four times for 38 yards. The difference became obvious after the Chiefs had 13 penalties for 109 yards against Jacksonville the week before.
Fans immediately smelled something off. Social media erupted with accusations of rigged games and league manipulation. The timing seemed too perfect to be worse. That’s when the UTEP study dropped like a bomb.
The study read, “By analyzing more than 13,000 penalty calls from 2015 to 2023, researchers found that postseason officiating has disproportionately favored the Patrick Mahomes–era Kansas City Chiefs, coinciding with their rise as one of the NFL’s most marketable franchises…”
According to a University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) press release, researchers analyzed 13,000 penalty calls from 2015 to 2023. They found that postseason officiating apparently favored the Kansas City Chiefs disproportionately, especially during the Patrick Mahomes era. pic.twitter.com/UPKVGqfXWC
— Sportskeeda Pro Football (@SKProFootball) October 13, 2025
The study revealed penalties against opposing defenses in Chiefs playoff games were significantly more likely to produce first downs and cover more yardage. Subjective calls like roughing the passer and pass interference went Kansas City’s way far more often.
Here’s the kicker. These advantages didn’t exist for the Tom Brady-era New England Patriots or other recent Super Bowl contenders. This seems to only happen with the Chiefs, who became a big hit on TV.
The UTEP team drew parallels to financial markets and corporate governance. Dominant players often enjoy advantages not from explicit corruption, but because institutions adapt to preserve stability and revenue. The NFL playoffs represent the league’s most commercially valuable period.
Fans have been screaming about this for years. Now they’ve got data to back it up.
One fan wrote, “Something needs to be done about this. Even Aikman, Buck and the rules/officiating analyst were talking about how many calls the chiefs got. The Ball doesn’t lie but the refs definitely had their thumbs on the scale for the Chiefs—again.”
Something needs to be done about this. Even Aikman, Buck and the rules/officiating analyst were talking about how many calls the chiefs got. The Ball doesn’t lie but the refs definitely had their thumbs on the scale for the Chiefs—again. https://t.co/slW0zH0eqp
— Miles (@GuitarsGunsGolf) October 7, 2025
Another added, “@NFL refs had their own game plan…..Chiefs victory was decided before the game. How else do you explain 13 penalties the game prior to this one and ZERO this week. No team plays a perfectly clean game!! No way unless there’s help!”
@NFL refs had their own game plan…..Chiefs victory was decided before the game. How else do you explain 13 penalties the game prior to this one and ZERO this week. No team plays a perfectly clean game!! No way unless there’s help!
— MeikaRocco (@DogHouse5212) October 13, 2025
However, they don’t always get lucky. They were on the wrong end of false start calls against the Philadelphia Eagles in their Week 2 matchup. It’s not like the officials give Andy Reid’s squad the benefit of the doubt every single time.
Still, the pattern is quite crazy. Since Mahomes took over in 2018, the Chiefs have dominated. Seven straight AFC Championship appearances. Five Super Bowl trips. Three titles. Their winning streak happened at the same time they became really popular on TV.
- Manhaz Muntaha
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