"There’s gonna be a ridiculous penalty discrepancy": Craig Carton suggests NFL will rig Broncos vs Chiefs game to protect KC’s dynasty

Craig Carton said the NFL is going to tilt the officiating scale when the Denver Broncos host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. He predicted the league would use penalty calls to influence the outcome in Kansas City’s favor as the postseason stakes are increasing.

Carton, who leads "The Craig Carton Show," pointed to Kansas City’s 5-4 start as motivation for what he characterized as league involvement. Denver sits atop the AFC West.

He made his take during Wednesday’s broadcast.

"And I'm telling you right now, the NFL is aware that the chief season is now in jeopardy," Carton said.

"They are in jeopardy of not making the playoffs ... And I'm a smart man. I've been around the block a few times. I will guarantee you right now. That there is going to be a ridiculous discrepancy in the penalties called versus the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon ... The NFL has already proven to the world that they are vested in the chief success. The only reason the chiefs even have this dynasty is because the officials have helped them along the way."

The Chiefs have dominated the division for nearly a decade and regularly appeared deep in the postseason.

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Craig Carton says officiating support has shaped the Kansas City Chiefs' run

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Craig Carton continued his take by saying officiating leniency dates back to the beginning of the Patrick Mahomes era.

"They have been the 12th man for Kansas City throughout the greatness of Patrick Mahomes, throughout the greatness of Andy Reid, throughout the greatness of Chris Jones and Kelce," Carton said.

"They've got legitimately great players, Hall of Fame players, but the NFL's been riding shotgun with the Kansas City Chiefs from Jump Street. And this game is when it's gonna be on display. I swear to you, I hope I'm wrong"

"If the chiefs dropped to five and five. It doesn't matter what happens with Pittsburgh. It doesn't matter what happens with the Jaguars. It doesn't matter what happens with those other teams that they'd be fighting for a wild card spot with. At five and five, the dynasty takes a nap and the NFL is not gonna let that happen."

Denver enters the matchup with national attention on whether the franchise’s turnaround is sustainable. Coach Sean Payton acknowledged this week that the offense must produce cleaner starts after two low-scoring wins.

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix will see Kansas City again after his near-upset last season during a tightly contested meeting. Meanwhile, Mahomes has dominated the rivalry historically, losing only once to Denver in his career.