Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce expressed his dissatisfaction with referee Adrian Hill and his officiating crew following the team”s narrow 22-19 defeat to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. This loss dropped the Chiefs to a 5-5 record, putting them on the brink of being out of contention for their division.
Kelce spoke about the officiating issues during Wednesday”s episode of his podcast. He pointed out that Hill”s crew is known for their high penalty assessment rate, particularly flagging home teams more frequently than visiting teams. Prior to facing the Broncos, the Chiefs had a perfect 4-0 record in games officiated by Hill, but the outcome was disappointing this time around.
The tight end specifically criticized what he labeled as procedural penalties, which include infractions like false starts and illegal motions. He emphasized that these types of penalties indicate fundamental discipline issues rather than mistakes in execution on the offensive or defensive sides. The Chiefs struggled in the red zone during critical moments of the game, particularly in the fourth quarter, leading to another one-score loss. This result starkly contrasts their previous performance in one-score games during the 2024 season, where they had boasted an 11-0 record.
This current season marks the Chiefs” worst start since 2015, when they also had a 5-5 record. That year, the team managed to turn their season around with an impressive 11-game winning streak, securing a playoff spot despite earlier struggles. Kelce is hopeful that they can replicate that success this time around.
After the game on Sunday, Kelce chose not to speak with reporters in the locker room, despite having broken the franchise record for touchdown receptions. His fourth-quarter touchdown catch of 21 yards surpassed the previous record of 83, which he shared with Priest Holmes. Kelce concluded the game with nine receptions for 91 yards.
The Chiefs are set to host the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, as they look to improve their season record.
