Do you believe the NFL is at least partially fixed?

What makes you think the owners are in on it?

I think it would be too easy that it's fixed if it were fixed. There are too many people involved, there would have to be some sort of communication between them and eventually it would get out. There aren't usually too many blatant bad calls, one or two in a game would be a lot. And there's no way the players are involved, it's pretty tough to purposely catch a big pass that gives you a lead, and people aren't falling on the ground early or doing any purposefully dumb things very often. What I think really happens is referees might have a bias in their head and think a certain team is really good and just assume they're better and should be winning. And the other team they might assume should be worse so when a big play happens they assume the 'bad team' may have had a penalty somewhere for the play to happen.

They fix it for the ratings. Roger Goodell wants the SB matchup that will draw the most people watching. Chiefs + Taylor Swift = $$$

What is there to down vote here? I heard the interview when Ali addressed this issue and I saw the interview where Bowie Kuhn talked about that issue.

It's simple, it's fact and you can't disagree.

So 31 billionaire owners all have the wool pulled over their eyes? Roflmao! That's high level delusion there.

I don't think it's fixed in that there's some big conspiracy to play out a pre-ordained season of wins and championships. But I do think it's curious that they don't rely on more technology to accurately ascertain where the ball comes down (like tennis for example) but choose to continue to use referees that can be subconsciously biased/can't possibly see everything, everywhere, all the time.

Why would someone tune into a game just to see Swift cheering from a luxury box, 3-4 times?

Front Office Sports first reported the pop star generated more than $330 million for the NFL and Chiefs, according to Apex Marketing Group.

High level delusion is thinking the Roger Goodell isn’t aware of Taylor Swift’s economic impact and wouldn’t use his power to influence the outcome of games.

cbsnews.com

By the numbers: Taylor Swift's impact on NFL, from viewership to jersey sales

Since Taylor Swift started popping up in stadiums across the U.S. – not to perform but to watch the Chiefs – her influence has only grown.

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Because teenage girls idolize her, and they love a celebrity love story.

On October 2, 2023, the Chiefs played the New York Jets. It was the most-watched NFL game since the Super Bowl in February, with 29 million viewers.

According to NBC, viewership among girls aged 12 to 17 was up 53% late in the season compared to before Swift started attending games.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged the impact of Swift on the league during a CBS Mornings interview in November.

"She's an unbelievable artist, obviously, Travis is an unbelievable player, and I think it's great for the league to have that kind of attention — so we welcome it," Goodell told CBS Mornings.

businessinsider.com

Taylor Swift did something the football world thought was impossible: She made the NFL even more popular in the US

Cork Gaines

Taylor Swift made the NFL even more popular in America. Her impact comes as the league's relevancy was already saturated in the US.

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How many times a season does the NFL show Swift during a game?

They're making money. That's all they care about. It's a game with real people as the parts.

My GF loves Swift and HATES football. She watches Chiefs games because ....

The answer is out there and it's much fewer than people think it is.

I think you got this 100% right (especially the part about the officials being susceptible to bias and influence).

I do also think that what we see with the Chiefs is this little subconscious loophole being of great help to them in these big games. You are right, there were some questionable calls that helped the Bills yesterday, but not all questionable calls (obviously) hold the same gravity. And I think what we see with the Chiefs is that the questionable calls in their favor invariably seem to be in crucial spots.

Let's be honest - Josh Allen got that first down yesterday in that crucial spot in the 4th. He did. It optically looked like he did from the hard cam and when they showed the reverse view it seemed even more clear that at a minimum about 2/3 of the ball crosses that line to gain. And the reason why we notice these calls and the fuel theories of officials actively helping the Chiefs is that the official with that best view - the one with Allen facing him, seems to spot the ball correctly yet after consulting with the official that didn't have a clear view at, changes his mind or is overruled by the head official and it massively changes the course of the game.

So are officials conspiring in this instance? Doubtful. Are they subconsciously being influenced by being in the Chiefs building 70'000 fans going crazy and in a human way wanting to be cheered and lauded vs jeered and hated when it comes to a close call? When the stakes are high that is when those factors are at their most heightened.

Either way it is a pattern that is being reflected a little too often for the average NFL to swallow. The Chiefs have an insanely tilted record in these one score games - like no matter how good you are, the law of averages has to catch up with you in a game of so many crazy variables etc - except with the Chiefs it doesn't seem to.

Side note - the Bills "4th down" packages - what in the f--k. Kept hearing about how with Josh Allen these guys were even more effective than the Eagles, uh, what? I can't believe how ineffective they were - one of the only conversions in the second half was when Allen had to stupidly dip the ball over the pile in a move you should only ever do at the goal line and was lucky to regain his fumble. Also the play calling on that season-deciding offensive drive? Classic Seanny Mac deer in the headlights stuff. They didn't help themselves either.

He’s engaged to Hailee Steinfeld. He could be dating someone a lot less famous.

It is not partially or fully fixed. The NBA of the 80's, that was fixed. The way the refs blatantly called or did not call fouls for the home teams was like wrestling. Had Allen's wounded duck been caught the Bills would have had all of the momentum and may have tied the game and taken it to overtime or won in regulation.

KC seeming to have every pivotal call go their way is frustrating to watch. I’m sure there’s confirmation bias at play, but the sense of dread watching them in the 4th quarter isn’t a great fan experience 🤨

Imagine this scene....

NFL meeting with all the owners present.

NFL Brass,....We are going to give 2025 to the Chiefs once again, it's what is best for business. What we need now is who will they beat in the Superbowl, so any suggestions?

Jerry Jones.....how about the Cowboys?
NFL Brass.....sorry Jerry but the public isn't going to accept that, you are no longer America's team.
Jerry Jones,,,,so you have us losing all those games then tell me how the public.....WTF?

NFL Brass.....any other recommendations?
Packers rep.....(GB owns the team)...how about the Packers?
NFL Brass.....we have talked about this before, we gave you guys how many Lombardi's already?
Anyone else?

Sheila Ford Hamp....Detroit Lions, come on will we ever get our shot? Why are we never ever considered for this?

NFL Brass......tell you what maybe it is time for your Lions, let us think that over, will get back to ya,

NFL Brass.....ok, so keep up the good work, anyone have one more response?

Jerry Jones......you know this isn't fair, right?

NFL Brass....shut up Jerry.

Ya they need to capitalize on that Taylor Swift revenue for the super bowl. Trav only has 3 years left max. Chiefs bias from the refs has gone too far. They don't care how obvious it is, no one else gets calls like that or even close.