NFL fans can’t claim ‘Chiefs bias’ about referee chosen for AFC Championship Game

In a way, the outrage over penalties called in the Chiefs’ 23-14 win over the Houston Texans on Saturday was a case of self-fulfilling prophecy among fans.

In the days leading up to the AFC Divisional playoff game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, many bemoaned the Chiefs having an unbeaten record in games worked by referee Clay Martin.

That won’t be the case this week.

The NFL on Monday announced that Clete Blakeman will be the referee for this Sunday’s AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead.

Since becoming an NFL referee ahead of the 2010 season, Blakeman has worked 17 Chiefs games. KC is 10-7 in those games.

But the Chiefs are 6-5 (.545) in games Blakeman has worked while Patrick Mahomes has been the Chiefs’ starting quarterback. According to The Athletic’s Mike Sando, that’s Mahomes’ second-worst winning percentage by referee.

Mahomes is 4-4 in games worked by Brad Allen.

Blakeman has been the referee for some noteworthy games since Mahomes became the Chiefs’ starter. He was the referee for Mahomes’ first NFL start in the final game of the 2017 season at Denver.

In the 2018 season opener against the L.A. Chargers, Blakeman was the referee. He also worked the epic 2018 “Monday Night Football” game against the Rams, which the Chiefs lost 54-51.

Blakeman was the referee when the Chiefs lost 37-31 in overtime to the Patriots in the first AFC Championship Game started by Mahomes.

Chiefs fans shared the clip of a questionable penalty on Chris Jones amid the furor about roughing calls against the Texans over the weekend.

Blakeman’s most recent game involving the Chiefs was also the last time they were beaten at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. It came on Christmas Day 2023, when the Raiders defeated the Chiefs 20-14.

Here are all the Chiefs games Blakeman has worked in his career. Mahomes’ first game was on Dec. 31, 2017 (Note: Mahomes didn’t play in KC’s 2021 loss to the Chargers):

Sept. 26, 2010: Chiefs 31, 49ers 10

Nov. 21, 2011: Patriots 34, Chiefs 3

Oct. 27, 2013: Chiefs 23, Browns 17

Dec. 15, 2013: Chiefs 56, Raiders 31

Oct. 23, 2016: Chiefs 27, Saints 21

Dec. 31, 2017: Chiefs 27, Broncos 24

Sept. 9, 2018: Chiefs 38, Chargers 28

Nov. 19, 2018: Rams 54, Chiefs 51

Jan. 20, 2019: Patriots 37, Chiefs 31 (OT)

Dec. 15, 2019: Chiefs 23, Broncos 3

Sept. 10, 2020: Chiefs 37, Texans 20

Oct. 11, 2020: Raiders 40, Chiefs 32

Jan. 3, 2021: Chargers 38, Chiefs 21

Sept. 19, 2021: Ravens 36, Chiefs 31

Nov. 6, 2022: Chiefs 20, Titans 17 (OT)

Dec. 24, 2022: Chiefs 24, Seahawks 10

Dec. 25, 2023: Raiders 20, Chiefs 14