Everything You Need To Know About the Referees For AFC Championship Game
Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Time and time again this season, the refs have had a positive or negative impact on a game (depending on who you were cheering for). As much as we would like for them to be perfect, they aren’t, and it’s important for teams to figure out exactly how their referee crews are imperfect. Especially in the playoffs.
The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs face off in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, and while Buffalo has to go to Arrowhead Stadium, the Bills might be catching a big break of their own. At least, when it comes to their game’s referee assignment. The NFL announced on Monday that Clete Blakeman and his crew will be in charge of officiating Sunday’s game.
The referee assignments for the AFC and NFC Championships are set! pic.twitter.com/NxIDuy8pKk
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) January 20, 2025
There are a lot of other things that go into winning and losing games, but when Patrick Mahomes has been the starting quarterback and Blackman has been the lead official, the Chiefs are 6-5. Yes, that is still a winning record, but when you consider Mahomes has a 105-26 record, five of those losses coming by one referee is eye-opening, and unmatched by any other officiating crew.
The last game that Mahomes played where Blakeman’s crew was in charge was Christmas Day in 2023. The Las Vegas Raiders were able to knock off the Chiefs that day, and five of the nine flags thrown in that game were against Kansas City.
Compare that to Josh Allen, who has gone 6-2 in the eight games that have been reffed by Blakemen. Blakemen last took the field for a Bills game in Week 17 against the New York Jets, a game in which Buffalo won 40-14. The Jets were penalized 16 times total for 120 yards.
Speaking of penalties, expect to see plenty of them on Sunday. Games officiated by Blakemen this season average 133 yards of penalty yards per game, which is the most by any crew in the NFL.
There was a lot of talk after the Chiefs Divisional Round game about the officiating favoring Patrick Mahomes, but there shouldn’t be much talk about heading into this game, especially with Blakeman in charge. This game will still be decided on the field, and hopefully, Blakeman and his crew won’t have much impact on the game. But if it does, history shows that just might favor Buffalo.
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