NFL analyst thinks Chiefs could have an edge Sunday because of the referee
For the second straight week, the Chiefs are headed on the road for a playoff game.
And for the second straight week, some believe the Chiefs could have an edge because of the referee assigned to work their next game.
Shawn Smith, who is in his sixth season as a referee and ninth overall as an official, will be working his second championship game. He was an umpire for the 2017 NFC Championship Game in which he Eagles thumped the Vikings 38-7.
This will be his first championship game as a referee.
Smith was the referee in the Chiefs’ 21-17 loss to the Eagles this season, and he worked the Ravens’ 23-7 win at the Jaguars last month. In both of those games, the road team won, and for at least one NFL pundit, that’s not a coincidence.
Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis expressed uneasiness about Smith being assigned to work the AFC Championship Game.
Sharp wrote more on his website and found home teams have been flagged by Smith at a higher rate over the last three years for these infractions: unnecessary roughness, roughing the passer, illegal formation and illegal shift penalties.
One caveat: Sharp Football Analysis also shared concerns about referee Shawn Hochuli ahead of the Chiefs-Bills AFC Divisional playoff game (as did Buffalo fans). There were few complaints about the officiating after the Chiefs won.
