The Chiefs have been heavily criticised all season for referee assists

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) watches play against the Tampa Bay BuccaneersAP

When one team stays on top for so long that it becomes almost impossible to beat them, rumors and controversies about getting help from the referees become more common among the fanbases of all the other rival teams. They start looking for any shred of evidence, no matter how insignificant, to support their claims. This is the case with the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, this year, just as it was with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots for most of this century. I don’t want to say that it often seems like the referees are helping them because of officiating mistakes, but the reality is that the Chiefs know how to win the closest games because that pressure is no longer on them and Mahomes has become an expert in close games, besides winning so much isn’t just due to the help of the referees or luck.

Officiating Issues or Desperation? The Chiefs’ Ongoing Criticism

In their quest for the first three-peat in history, the Chiefs are constantly in the spotlight, whether Taylor Swift is at their games or not. The latest complaint from a rival team came from the Chargers during last Sunday night’s game, where the Chiefs won 19-17 on a field goal that bounced off the upright and went in as time expired. In that game, thanks to a Mic’d Up video shared by the Chargers, one play stood out among many involving Travis Kelce and safety Derwin James. During the play, James complained about a push, and surprisingly, Kelce admitted, “HELL YEAH, I DID – you know my routes.”

Although the play happened on a run to the other side of the field and made no difference, the “shove” – let’s face it – was minimal. Remember, you can make contact with your opponent within the first five yards, even though pushing is technically illegal. This is just another example of the desperation of some fans to criticize the success of the Chiefs. Once again, I believe the Chiefs have benefited from key moments in games, such as the one against Atlanta and several uncalled false starts all season long.

It’s clear that NFL officiating needs to improve in all games, not just those involving the Chiefs. However, that’s not the reason for their long-term success with Reid, Mahomes, Kelce and the Chiefs. What I want to highlight is their ability to win close games, something that Tom Brady himself has praised, saying that great teams know how to do it. For reference, the Chiefs became the 26th team in league history to start a season 12-1, but their point differential through 13 games (plus-56) is by far the smallest of any 12-1 team.

Chiefs’ and Their Packed Schedule Across Six Days of the Week

The Chiefs’ victory on Sunday was their fourth of the season decided by one or two points, a total surpassed only once in the 105-year history of the NFL (Packers 1989). With four games remaining, it’s not unlikely that another one will be decided by such a small margin. Looking at the schedule, the Chiefs face the Browns this Sunday in Cleveland, a game that looks winnable on paper. However, Jameis Winston, true to his unpredictable style, could pull off an upset. It should be an entertaining matchup.

Next, the Chiefs host the Texans in their final home game of the season on Saturday, December 21. Their penultimate game is on Christmas Day against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, which is a Wednesday. This makes the Chiefs the first team to play on six different days of the week this season, having only missed a Tuesday. This underscores the Chiefs’ tremendous marketing power and the league’s understanding that they are the most watched team in recent years. Personally, I think Taylor Swift has played a significant role for this to happen, as she is likely to attend these games now that her record-breaking Eras Tour has concluded.

The Chiefs close out the season against Denver, a team Mahomes has dominated with a 13-1 record. However, the game will likely have major playoff implications for the Broncos and determine the Chiefs’ final seeding. It’s highly likely that Kansas City will secure the No. 1 seed, making the AFC playoffs come to Arrowhead once again. Let’s hope officiating doesn’t become an issue in the Chiefs’ remaining games or for any team this season, though that’s easier said than done.