Old issues could pop up for Chiefs with Week 7's referee

Second-year NFL referee Tra Blake and his crew have been assigned to the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers game in Week 7 per Football Zebras.

Blake has only ever been a head referee for one Chiefs game, which came last season against the Denver Broncos. Kansas City won that matchup 27-24. He was an umpire in two prior Chiefs games in 2021, and Kansas City managed a 1-1 record in those two games. 

As for the Chargers, this will be Blake's first game officiating for them in his young career as a white hat. 

Blake and his crew have only officiated five games so far this season while most crews have officiated six games. Despite that fact, Blake's crew still ranks in the top 5 in accepted penalties with 77 total. They've had 15 dismissed penalties this season as well. 

This crew has the second-most defensive pass interference penalties called in the NFL, with 10 so far this season. They're also tied for the most defensive holding penalties in the NFL with seven. It's going to be one of those games where the secondary is under the microscope for both teams. 

Something else to look out for is Chiefs RT Jawaan Taylor. 

This crew has two illegal formation penalties this season and they're right near the top of the league in false starts. Taylor's issues haven't cropped up in a few weeks, but this could be a crew where he backslides a bit with those tendencies.