Posted on 01/26/2024 9:18:55 PM PST by lasereye
We have our theory as to how we got here: The relative incompetence of the NFL refs combined with the league's sudden embracing of gambling has created skepticism about the legitimacy of game results.
In other words, some NFL fans are now habitually accusing the league of "rigging" games - especially, of course, when that fan either loses by way of his team's failure, or loses a bet.
And now comes the AFC Championship Game, with the selection of the officiating crew for the Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens showdown ... and a respected NFL analyst floating the idea that the officiating crew being led by Shawn Smith means the league wants the Chiefs to win. ...
Because the league wants more Taylor Swift on TV?!
According to NFL analyst Warren Sharp, ref Smith has heavily favored the road team in recent years. NFL home teams have about a 50-percent win percentage. But in games called by Smith over the past couple of years, it's 40.8 percent, says Sharp.
He calls that advantage "outrageous'' as he writes ...
"The NFL pushed the panic button. They have a ref in their rotation who is a MASSIVE edge to road teams Road teams win at the #1 highest rate with him... He penalizes home teams in ways no other ref does... and... He's calling the Chiefs road game.''
Sharp's copy doesn't mention the pop star Swift, girlfriend of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and an attention- and ratings-getter due to her presence at Kansas City's game. But the hint is there as Sharp uses her photo in his graphic: The NFL, he is suggesting, wants the Chiefs in the Super Bowl because the NFL wants Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl.
(Excerpt) Read more at si.com ...
Anyhow, I'm rooting for the Chiefs!
So the NFC has no chance? Hmmm... Sounds good to me.
I hate Mahomes and Kelce as much as anybody but when you’re good, you’re good.
It will have nothing to do with Taylor Swift, the refs or Goodell. The Ravens are good, the Chiefs are better... The Niners and Detroit don’t stand a chance.
The Chiefs having games rigged on their behalf. It has nothing to do with her. They’ve been calling games for them since Mahommes showed up. Why? Who the hell knows given what nasty POSs his wife and brother are.
Hell, they probably shouldn’t be in the playoffs. At best they should have got a wild card slot as they should have lost at least 2 other games during the regular season. Most notably against the Jets with an absolute ridiculous pass interference call late in the game.
And they should have lost to the Eagles with at least one play their O-line had 3 holding infractions on one play.
My uncle had season tickets to an NFL team in the 1970s and 80s. Eventually, he gave them up. He always said the games were fixed. I used to laugh at him. Recently, I stopped laughing. I think he was right.
Last Sunday's game against the Bills broke viewership records. This Sunday's game against the Ravens likely will as well. And a Chiefs/Whoever Superbowl with Taylor Swift, Cara Delevingne, all the wives, and a shirtless, drunken Jason Jason Kelce will be a ratings bonanza!!!!
There's no doubt the Swift-Kelce romance is driving ratings right now. People just like it. It makes people happy.
I think it's kinda cool myself. I like Swift. Kelce seems like a decent guy. It could be worse. At least she's not coupling up with some tattooed, scowling black rapper.
At least Taylor Swift getting knocked up by Travis Kelce will do wonders for the lagging white birth rate.
I’m sure that the NFL has a WOKE-DEI Super Bowl halftime show, with hundreds of thinly veiled messages from advertisers liberally scattered throughout the game.
Yes, it’s another Pleasant Valley Sunday.
That this is even a topic of discussion speaks volumes to the depths the NFL has fallen.
I think gambling is the biggest influence on the NFL right now.
It was inevitable once all the pro leagues have established a franchise in Vegas and that many states are legalizing gambling.
The pass interference no-call during the Saints-Rams 2018 NFCC game in the Superdome did it for me. Saints should have went on to the Superbowl. They had to sneak the refs out of town in New Orleans after the game. The fans wanted bloodshed against them.
https://youtu.be/xjvZHMod_3E?si=iMGnQ7Fnz6sPAkvd
That was horrendous.
“So the NFC has no chance?”
The conjecture is that the NFL wants the Chiefs and fangirl Swift in the Super Bowl for ratings based on Swift’s undeniable ability to attract viewers. Sadly, that’s plausible. But the NFL care whether the Chiefs defeat the NFC champ in the Super Bowl? Not sure why they would. Swift there crying over her team losing is no less entertaining than her celebrating a win.
Well, the Super Bowl logo this year is red and purple for San Fran and Baltimore, if you believe the color theory.
Teams just have to win by an overwhelming margin that will make cheating obvious. Kind of like how Donald Trump needs to win the election. He has to win overwhelmingly so any cheating will be clear and obvious to everyone.
Detroit already beat the Chiefs at home this year.
Yeah... But sadly for Detroit, that wasn’t the Super Bowl.
She writes a song about her loss, and her fans love it. What’s the over/under on draft kings about the timing of her breakup with Kelce. She’s probably upset they didn’t offer her the Superbowl half time show.
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