The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves once again in the Super Bowl, hoping to become the NFL's first three-peat NFL xhampions. They do it on the back of a 15-2 regular-season record and despite a subpar statistical season from quarterback Patrick Mahomes - at least by his own standards.
Many have argued however, that the Chiefs have been just as lucky as they have been good, especially as it relates to the officiating.
The quality of NFL officiating is always a hot topic, and a certain Hall of Fame quarterback has been quite vocal about it.
“I know the officials have a tough job. I mean, the scrutiny that they’re under. As we’ve gotten more advanced with instant replay, those guys, it seems, have become more and more scrutinized," said former Cowboys' quarterback-turned television analyst Troy Aikman.
During his appearance on the SI Media Podcast with Jimmy Traina, he continued.
"And the game has not become less controversial, the game has become more controversial. I just think that we’re at a point that this has tipped a little bit because the league is partners with a number of these gambling services."
Aikman stressed how much more important getting the right call has become due to legalized gambling and the NFL's partnership with it.
"Here you are promoting gambling, people are gambling more than they ever have before. Those types of calls – there’s a lot at stake regardless – but especially when you’re considering there’s a lot of money that’s changing hands with these calls as well, I think that we owe it to the fans that we get it right and I think we’re at a point in time where we can."
Aikman has not reserved his critique of the officials for podcasts, he's aired them out on national television. In Kansas City's Divisional Round matchup against the Houston Texans, Aikman had choice words for an unnecessary roughness call.
"Oh, come on! I mean, he's a runner. I could not disagree with that one more. He barely gets hit." Aikman said on the broadcast. "They've gotta address it in the offseason."
As the Chiefs are set to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of Super Bowl 57, we'll see if the officiating is up to Aikman's standards.
