Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs headlines for Wednesday, February 5
NFLRA says theories that officials favor Chiefs ‘insulting’ | ESPN
A day after Goodell called it a “ridiculous theory,” NFLRA executive director Scott Green said in a statement that Goodell’s comments were “spot on.”
League rules prohibit officials from speaking publicly except in postgame pool reports that are monitored by the league. But Green, a retired referee speaking on behalf of the officiating union, pointed out that crews don’t work more than two of any team’s games.
“It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team,” Green said. “NFL officials are graded every week, on every single play of each game. These grades are the determining factor as to who receives postseason assignments. The NFLRA commends its members, who all strive to do exactly what all 32 NFL teams do, which is to excel at their jobs so that they are working the last game of the season — the Super Bowl.”
Do the Chiefs Really Get All the Calls? A Ringer Investigation. | The Ringer
The refs might not be making more calls against the Chiefs’ opponents than the average team, but holy hell, do they know when to make them.
Mahomes is credited with 30 game-winning drives in his career, per Pro Football Reference. On 12 of those, the opposing defense was flagged for at least one penalty. That’s 40 percent! (As a comparison, there were 1,454 defensive penalties called on 5,819 offensive drives this season, a roughly 5-to-1 drive-to–defensive penalty ratio.)
Six of the penalties on Mahomes’s game-winning drives were what I’d call drive-saving penalties—plays where a turnover or failed third- or fourth-down conversion attempt was wiped out. On four of them, the Chiefs received a first down. And three of those drive-saving plays on game-winning drives have taken place in stand-alone, nationally televised games. After a full Sunday of watching football, the last thing we see is Kansas City nearly losing before a penalty saves its ass. Then we’re mad about it from Monday to the next Sunday.
Jalen Hurts on Super Bowl rematch vs. Chiefs: ‘It lit a flame, lit a fire in me’ | NFL.com
“I’ve learned so much,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “It’s the same as any other game and, you know, I think the moments are the moments but ultimately, you know, every game has its lesson — good, bad or indifferent. So, just being able to become wiser, grow and mature and take all these lessons in for the next season and the next games.
“It’s had a great driving force. It lit a flame, lit a fire in me, and to have this opportunity again is exactly what you work for.”
The Eagles are, like any team, embracing the challenge that awaits them.
Kansas City is still built...
