Chiefs Have Eye-Opening Numbers With Sunday’s Referee

Chiefs are 7-0 with Martin

According to NFLPenalties.com, this marks the eighth Chiefs game Martin has overseen since Patrick Mahomes became Kansas City’s full-time starter in 2018. The Chiefs are 7-0 in the prior seven games:

The league likely noticed the trend early in Mahomes’ career because after the Chiefs won Martin’s first four assigned games from 2019-20, the NFL did not schedule the referee for another Kansas City game over the following two seasons (2021-22).

Baltimore games

In contrast, Martin’s crew has had Baltimore three times over the last three-plus seasons and the Ravens are 0-3 in those games: Their 18-16 loss at Pittsburgh in 2024, the team’s 24-17 loss at Cincinnati in the 2022 wild-card playoffs and Baltimore’s 24-20 road loss to the Giants in 2022.

The last time Martin’s crew officiated a Baltimore win was Oct 13, 2019, a 23-17 triumph over Cincinnati at M&T Bank Stadium.

Home teams

Home teams are 2-1 in games Martin has officiated this year, and have won three of his crew’s past four assignments -- including Kansas City’s victory over Houston in the 2024 divisional playoffs.

Offensive holding

• Baltimore, which allowed seven sacks in Monday’s loss, is the only team in the league that hasn’t been called for offensive holding through three weeks.

• However, consider that streak likely to end this week. Martin’s crew in just three games this year has already flagged offenses 12 times for holding.