Furious NFL Fans Are Convinced Chiefs-Chargers Week 1 Game Is Already “Rigged” After Sketchy Details Emerge

May be an image of 5 people, people playing football and text
Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert (Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
We’re still three sleeps away from the Kansas City Chiefs-Los Angeles Chargers Week 1 game in São Paulo, Brazil. And yet, fans are already convinced that the outcome has already been decided.

Miami @ Indianapolis – NFL Betting Preview Game Betting-preview for September 07, 2025

Patrick Mahomes and the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs are set to renew the storied AFC West rivalry with Justin Herbert’s Los Angeles Chargers at Arena Corinthians on Friday (8:00 p.m. EST). This will be the second NFL game in Brazil, following last year’s Week 1 tilt between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.

As every football fan knows, there’s a wild conspiracy theory that the NFL refs rig games for the Chiefs. This time, however, disgruntled fans think the “fix” will benefit the Chargers this Friday.

That’s because veteran NFL referee Carl Scheffers was named the head official for the Chiefs-Chargers game:

You can guess how fans, especially supporters of the Kansas City Chiefs, took this news:

“And they say the chiefs are cheaters lmao it’s actually everybody else and not us,” said a Chiefs fan.

“hearing carl cheffers is reffing a chiefs game feels like finding out your ex is the judge at your custody hearing 💀,” quipped another.

“GROAN,” wrote a fan.

“Lol. Chiefs are screwed,” wrote a Buffalo Bills fan.

“Yea we’re 0-1,” said another.

“The day this guy retires will become a Federal holiday,” a fan commented.

Kansas City Chiefs Have A Complicated History With Games Officiated By Carl Cheffers

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 12: NFL referee Carl Cheffers looks at a replay during the second quarter in Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
On one hand, Cheffers was the head official of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl 55 blowout win over the Chiefs. Per ESPN, Cheffers’ crew called 11 penalties for 120 yards on Kansas City but only four penalties for 39 yards on the Bucs.

However, Cheffers’ crew also called the questionable “holding” penalty against James Bradberry of the Philadelphia Eagles that essentially iced Super Bowl 57 for the Kansas City Chiefs.

What can we say, Chiefs fans? You gotta take the good with the bad.