CBS Rules Analyst Sends Stern Message to Refs Ahead of Bills-Chiefs Game

The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs will face off in the AFC championship on Sunday. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. EST. and the Chiefs are aiming for their third consecutive Super Bowl win. Meanwhile, the Bills hope to make the Super Bowl for the first time since 1994.

However, all eyes are on the officiating crew for this contest. Sports fans and some talking heads believe that Kansas City recieves more favorable calls than not, especially in the postseson.

Whether the Chiefs receive favorable calls or not is up for interpretation. But since 2021, Kansas City has participated in 11 playoff games, which includes the 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in the divisional round. During that 11 game span, the Chiefs have only had 36 penalties called against them while their opponents have combined for 66 penalties.

With NFL referees as the forefront of Sunday's contest, CBS rules analyst, Gene Steratore, sent a stern message to the officiating crew for the Bills-Chiefs game. Steratore simply stated, "Let them play physical, right up to that line of being a foul. Call the obvious and let the incidental/small stuff fall by the wayside."

He also added, "This is the conference championship game, it will be clean - both teams are exceptionally coached and aren't new to this moment." Steratore seemingly wants a clean-called game to allow the Bills and Chiefs to showcase their potential.

Sunday's game marks the seventh-time in league history where these two teams will play each other. Kansas City owns the all-time postseason record 4-2. The Chiefs have defeated the Bills three times since the 2020 playoffs.

Regardless of the outcry over the referees in the NFL, we should expect to see Patrick Mahomes connect with Travis Kelce often. The superstar tight end is considered as one of the best playoff performers in league history, as he's recorded 172 receptions, 2,020 receiving yards, and 20 touchdowns in 23 playoff games played.

San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice is the only player with more career yards (2,245) and touchdowns (22). Kelce is certainly in reach of breaking both of those records.