After starting the 2024 season with a perfect 3-0 record, many NFL fans are growing increasingly convinced that Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are benefiting from favorable officiating. The team’s recent victories have been shadowed by controversy, as several questionable penalty calls and non-calls have left fans wondering if the Chiefs are getting an unfair advantage.
The situation took a turn for the worse when a pregame photo surfaced showing Mahomes chatting with one of the referees before the Chiefs’ Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. While it’s common for players to interact with officials before games—often to clarify rules, discuss how certain plays might be called, or just catch up—this particular photo has stirred outrage among NFL fans who believe the league is giving Mahomes special treatment.
Many fans quickly took to social media to voice their frustrations, speculating that the conversation was indicative of a larger conspiracy.
“Ready to cheat like always,” one fan commented sarcastically.
“Dude slipped him a 20, lmao,” another joked, suggesting bribery was involved.
“I don’t even think Tom Brady got this treatment,” a third fan remarked, referencing another quarterback often accused of receiving preferential treatment from officials.
“Another rigged game incoming,” said another frustrated fan, while yet another added, “Bad look for the NFL here.”
The Chiefs have already been at the center of several controversial officiating moments in just three weeks of play, fueling these suspicions. It all began in Week 1, when Kansas City benefitted from a questionable timeout call. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was seen rushing down the sideline to request a timeout with nine seconds remaining in the second quarter. Despite NFL rules prohibiting assistant coaches from calling timeouts, the officials granted it, sparking an outcry that the Chiefs were being given an unfair break. By rule, only head coach Andy Reid should have been able to call the timeout, making the incident even more frustrating for opposing fans.
The Week 2 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals also raised eyebrows when the Chiefs, trailing 25-23 late in the game, faced a critical fourth-and-16 situation. Mahomes launched a deep pass to wide receiver Rashee Rice, which fell incomplete. However, the referees threw a flag for defensive pass interference, giving the Chiefs a fresh set of downs and the opportunity to kick a game-winning field goal. Many fans and analysts questioned the legitimacy of the penalty, feeling it was a soft call that ultimately decided the game.
In Week 3, during the Chiefs’ Sunday Night Football showdown against the Atlanta Falcons, yet another officiating controversy arose. With the Falcons trailing 17-22 and driving down the field for a potential game-winning score, quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a pass to tight end Kyle Pitts. The ball was broken up, but Falcons fans—and even broadcaster Cris Collinsworth—immediately pointed out how much contact there was between Pitts and the defender.
“That’s a lot of contact, wasn’t it?” Collinsworth remarked during the broadcast. “Head’s not around, and didn’t have a chance to make a play.”
A pass interference call in that situation would have given the Falcons first-and-goal and a strong chance to pull off a last-second victory. However, the no-call stood, and the Chiefs held on for the win.
With all these controversial moments piling up, it’s no surprise that some fans are starting to suspect the Chiefs are receiving favorable treatment from officials. Mahomes’ pregame chat with the referee, innocent as it may have been, has only added fuel to the fire. Fans are now scrutinizing every decision made by officials in Chiefs games, convinced that the reigning Super Bowl champions are being handed victories through questionable officiating.
Regardless of the controversies, the Chiefs remain undefeated at 3-0, sitting at the top of the league standings. As the season progresses, they will continue to face scrutiny, especially if these questionable calls keep benefiting their path to victory.
Whether it’s simply bad luck for their opponents or something more nefarious, the Chiefs’ early-season success has certainly not come without drama.
