[rams1974]

Now seems like a good time to bubble this conversation back up. Many people think the Chiefs are obviously benefiting from preferential treatment by the NFL and the referees.

This topic has appeared off and on in this forum over the years, with pretty passionate opinions on either side. It might be interesting to see how people's views on this have evolved.

For my part .. in the early 2000s, I thought it was fairly obvious and rational that the NFL, a (then) $20 billion dollar collective of 32 teams, would be taking an active role in ensuring its revenues get maximized, and if that means we need to prop up / knock down (Hello, Kill Football in St. Louis) certain teams to do it, then they were going to do it. I think you can imagine my stance now that the NFL is worth $100-$150 billion.

A big reason I wanted to see the Rams move to LA is cynicism in knowing they'd never be allowed to be sustainably successful in St. Louis.

I will say I think they scaled it back for awhile in fear that it'd get exposed. It was really bad 20 years ago, and it's not as bad today.

But I do think the Chiefs get clear preferential treatment ..

[max]

There's a simple reason I believe the NFL puts their hand on the scale in big games, especially. And maximizing revenue is a benefit not the proof.

We can launch a rocket ship into space and bring it back to an exact spot on the launch pad, so why can't we use technology to show the exact location of a football trying to break the line of gain? The answer is we can if we wanted to. But if we did the NFL would lose an important element of control, they'd have a harder time putting their hand on the scale.

When you have 2 evenly matched teams like the Bills and Chiefs, it doesn't take much to influence the result.

[Elvis]

How did they get Kincaid to drop that pass, or Andrews in the previous game?

The balls have chips in them already, the NFL has started with optical placement, trying it out in preseason. It was really slow but they're working on it.

And it has other problems. The ball isn't round. You have to know how it's oriented to know where to place it. You still have to make judgement calls like when exactly is a player down, when is progress stopped, does the player have possession, etc.

Technology has made the game better and it will continue to over time.

Personally, i put no stock in these conspiracy theories whatsoever...

[Indrid Cold]

Personally, i put no stock in these conspiracy theories whatsoever...

My conspiracy theory is that people that like conspiracy theories in general like the NFL ones.

[Youngblood22]

I'm not buying it, human error more than anything, people see what they want to see.

[Gareth]

For those who believe this nonsense… I have the following questions:

1. Why the Chiefs?
2. Why do you still follow the NFL and spend money on a rigged league?
3. Why not bet on the Chiefs and other like teams?
4. Why such misfortune for the Cowboys for so long?
5. How does the NFL allow both New York teams to stink so bad? And Chicago.

[St. Loser Fan]

For those who believe this nonsense… I have the following questions:

1. Why the Chiefs?
2. Why do you still follow the NFL and spend money on a rigged league?
3. Why not bet on the Chiefs and other like teams?
4. Why such misfortune for the Cowboys for so long?
5. How does the NFL allow both New York teams to stink so bad? And Chicago.

As much as I hate the Chiefs, this right here. What's the upside to helping a team from a flyover country city with little population growth in the #33 TV market?

[Elvis]

Thing that bugs me about the way the NFL rigs games is they only help teams with HOF coaches and QBs like the Chiefs and Patriots. Why not rig it for a bad team once in a while?

[St. Loser Fan]

Thing that bugs me about the way the NFL rigs games is they only help teams with HOF coaches and QBs like the Chiefs and Patriots. Why not rig it for a bad team once in a while?

If there's ever a fanbase that is "owed" a Super Bowl championship; it's the Buffalo Bills.

[ziggy]

According to the NFL and also the wealthy elites Taylor Swift >> Hailee Steinfeld.