Do You Think the NFL is Tipping the Scales for the Chiefs? \ stacker news ~Stacker

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Do You Think the NFL is Tipping the Scales for the Chiefs?

1083 sats \ 20 comments \ @kepford 27 Jan Stacker_Sports

I'm not the biggest nerd here on football and I mostly watch the 49ers games but even I can see some questionable calls in games that favor the Chiefs. I really want another team to win the big game this year. That is a bias for sure. I'm still thinking about it though. I think it might be complicated.

Obviously the Chiefs and their QB are great for the league. Not to mention Taylor Swift dating a player. This pumps ratings which is money! So, could it be that there isn't some grand conspiracy but refs know that these are the golden boys and give them the calls more often than any other team? I suspect this happens in the NBA with James and I believe it did with Jordan.

The NFL tried to protect Brady when he was at the top. Its not crazy to think that plays a part right?

What do you think?

Sour grapes, refs get calls wrong6.7%

Roger Goodell is rigging the league46.7%

Refs give KC calls subconsciously46.7%

15 votes \ poll ended

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108 sats \ 3 replies \ @grayruby 27 Jan

100%. This level of bias cannot be inadvertent. Every year huge calls and non calls go in the Chiefs favour and allow them to win games and advance in the playoffs. I firmly believe they would only have 1 Super Bowl win instead of 4 if all playoff games were called evenly.

117 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined 27 Jan

You're already counting 2025? That's fair.

92 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby 27 Jan

Haha guess so.

49 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 27 Jan

the simultaneous interception that should have been called incomplete

Chiefs stopping Bills on 4th and short when the ref who actually saw the ball and had the better angle called first down and was overruled by the other ref on the other side who could not see the ball

127 sats \ 9 replies \ @SimpleStacker 27 Jan

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that this can happen even without an explicit mandate for rigging.

But it works out of people's incentives towards self preservation, avoiding drama, and avoiding complaints. You're gonna get in a lot more trouble, face a lot more scrutiny, if the face of the league complains about a call than if a rando does. Thus, out of a sense of wanting to avoid drama, you'll give preferential treatment to stars. Happens in all sorts of environments, not just sports.

59 sats \ 3 replies \ @kepford OP 27 Jan

Refs give KC calls subconsciously

That's what I lean toward. I think that's close to what you are saying.

39 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford OP 27 Jan

This is similar to many of my views on politics and government "conspiracies". I think its rare that its something overt and more often just how the incentives work in conjunction with human nature and desires. When you think about it, it would be much easier to address if it were actual conspiracies. Systems are much harder to change than to arrest a few bad apples.

60 sats \ 1 reply \ @SimpleStacker 27 Jan

The only slight nuance I'd add to that would be that it could actually be conscious, just not borne out of an explicit mandate or desire to rig.

It's kinda like in an office meeting, there are some people you're more willing to disagree with and others you tiptoe around, because of their personalities or situations within the company. And you're consciously aware that you're treating people differently, but you do it anyway because it's rational.

I'm just speculating, obviously, i dunno what goes on in refs' heads...

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford OP 27 Jan

Yep, I can see that as well.

47 sats \ 4 replies \ @Undisciplined 27 Jan

without an explicit mandate for rigging.

I think this is likely. The league can communicate their "points of emphasis" in a way that the officials understand the assignment.

I'll be very surprised if there's a memo that goes out to the officials that says "Chiefs by 4", for instance.

26 sats \ 2 replies \ @kepford OP 27 Jan

Yeah, that would be incredibly dumb. A single ref might get that from some bookie rigging a game but not the league.

82 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined 27 Jan

They clearly understand, though, that the QB protection rules are meant to protect Mahomes (and he understands that as well), because defenders are perfectly free to hammer Allen, Burrow, Daniels, and any other QB in the league.

23 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford OP 27 Jan

Yep. And winners don't cry about it. They deal with it and try to win anyway. Crying doesn't work. Just ask some of the guys that have in the past and don't play any more.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 27 Jan

League memo: Taylor Swift has a lot of fans who hate football but will watch Chiefs

96 sats \ 4 replies \ @Undisciplined 27 Jan

I think they clearly have their thumbs on the scale.

There are just too many cases of Chiefs getting calls, getting generous reviews, having flags be picked up without explanation, their opponents getting screwed with late flags, and getting away with penalties.

It's well beyond trying to protect the star QB, although that's getting ridiculous in its own right. Pretty much any chance for something to go either way, it goes the Chiefs way.

Someone on nostr told me that, if anything, it was the Bills getting the calls. I laughed at him and asked for examples. I'm still waiting.

36 sats \ 3 replies \ @kepford OP 27 Jan

What calls did they get? There were at least two calls that KC got that impacted either their ability to score or the Bills.

72 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined 27 Jan

I recall one missed face mask penalty, but it wasn't in a high leverage situation. The Chiefs were moving the ball, with or without the call.

39 sats \ 1 reply \ @kepford OP 27 Jan

The Chiefs are an incredible team. I think they are the better team. It just sucks to see the calls go in one direction

74 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 27 Jan

That's basically what I said in Blok's post about the game.

20 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 27 Jan

bahahahaha