The Chiefs’ penalty advantage is real but misunderstood

Much has been made about the Chiefs supposed referee advantage. Most of it is nonsense.

It is true that the Chiefs are getting more calls in their favor than against them. In their nine games during their three straight Super Bowl runs, Chiefs opponents have committed 61 accepted penalties (and four that were declined), while Kansas City has had just 35 accepted penalties (and eight that were declined).

That seems like a high ratio. But is it?

Let us compare that to other teams who have made playoff runs during that time: AFCCG opponents the Bills, Ravens, and Bengals, and SB opponents Eagles and 49ers. For this we will not count their games against the Chiefs (which for the Chiefs is just 3…