NFL is Rigged: Week 18 edition

[ToxSocks]

The CP consensus is that the NFL is rigged. Welp, as such, I think it’d be great to discuss this week’s script.

The NFL is rigged, so this should be easy. As easy as predicting a WWE In-Ring interview being rudely interrupted by a rival with a steel chair.

Call your shot, what kind of week 18 shenanigans is the NFL up to?

Las Vegas vs L.A: Which new stadium does the NFL prefer? TWO teams in L.A make the playoffs?

Will the NFL write in a tie game sending BOTH to the playoffs?

Will they sneak the Steelers in for one last hoorah for Ruthlessraper?

Or will they write in Lamar Jackson because he generates ratings?

Will they give the most prestigious player (Mahomes) the #1 seed, or do they want to see the Chiefs in the WC round for extra ratings?

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by wachashi

The NFL just agreed to a deal to host Thursday Night Football exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. The deal will run for 11 seasons and is worth $1 billion - with a "B"

Ratings matter a whole hell of a lot when it's time to negotiate those billion-dollar deals.

The NFL's revenue is directly correlated to ratings. Just because deals are negotiated far in advance doesn't make them less meaningful. It just means they matter more when it's time to negotiate new deals.

streaming sucks

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

In terms of yardage, your top 3 in order are Raiders, Cowboys, 49ers.

So if the Raiders are favored by the NFL for the multitude of reasons already stated, why are they so heavily penalized?

What is the NFL up to here? Why are they working so diligently against them?

Clearly, we're not seeing the bigger picture here.

No one else finds this odd?

That the LV, SF and Dallas market teams are so heavily penalized?

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by wachashi

The NFL just agreed to a deal to host Thursday Night Football exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. The deal will run for 11 seasons and is worth $1 billion - with a "B"

Ratings matter a whole hell of a lot when it's time to negotiate those billion-dollar deals.

The NFL's revenue is directly correlated to ratings. Just because deals are negotiated far in advance doesn't make them less meaningful. It just means they matter more when it's time to negotiate new deals.

The night of football with historically the worst match ups of the week and mostly awful games, which still dwarfs anything else on TV?

TNF ratings proves the NFL can march out Jags vs Jets with no shenanigans and still have relatively great ratings, because they've watered down the league so much, games are generally close and people don't seem to mind watching awful football.

The NFL cares so much about keeping some regular season game against two small markets that's not even being broadcasted nationally close for the ratings, but **** the Chiefs in by far the most watched event every year, we'll make sure it's over by halftime.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

No one else finds this odd?

That the LV, SF and Dallas market teams are so heavily penalized?

Let me take a stab at this...

"You see, these penalties typically happen in low leverage spots. It allows NFL officials to then make calls in favor for these teams when it swings the win probability highest in their direction. When average joes then look at the stat sheet at the end, things appear equitable, heck, things appear like they were tilted against the big market teams, but when you look at which calls were most important to the win probability of the game, the big market teams benefit most when the fix is in. Watching games like this requires an enlightened, deeper understanding that the distorted reality presented to us on the gridiron is a tightly controlled kayfabe meant for the viewer's entertainment. Notice at the end of the games it says "entertainment broadcast" and not a sporting event. That slight, subtle, nuanced white noise that the viewer misses after the catharsis of the game, really shows itself for what it is in plain sight."

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

The end result, no matter what the who, why and extent may be, is that outcomes are predetermined.

And again, for the billionth time as well, that's not what 99% of us are saying.

"Predetermined" is WWE. "Steering results" is not predetermined or scripted. The Chiefs technically could have still won the Bengals game, but they would have had to play literally flawless football and couldn't do so, but neither team did. The difference was without a doubt the officiating. That's not the same as saying something is predetermined.

This is like calling anyone who questions the government a "conspiracy theorist" and lumping them in with Alex Jones and Q followers. That's not at all where most of us are.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

I think some games are officiated to increase the odds of the desired outcome. However, that officiating can be overcome and not lead to the desired result. That's the middle ground I see. It's not scripted, the coaches and players aren't in on it...

However, anyone who doesn't see a bias after watching the Saints lose to the Rams, or the Chiefs to the Pats in 2018, to create a Pats vs. Rams Superbowl is intellectually blind.

OTOH, the Chiefs/Rams had that epic 54-51 game earlier in the season and one would think you'd officiate your way out of a 13-3 snoozefest to manufacture a fraction of that entertainment.

Of course, the DPI non call is one of those that has no explanation and zero accountability.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Let me take a stab at this...

"You see, these penalties typically happen in low leverage spots. It allows NFL officials to then make calls in favor for these teams when it swings the win probability highest in their direction. When average joes then look at the stat sheet at the end, things appear equitable, heck, things appear like they were tilted against the big market teams, but when you look at which calls were most important to the win probability of the game, the big market teams benefit most when the fix is in"

Ok, i hear you.

__________________
Life is like a dick. Sometimes it gets hard for no reason, but it can't stay hard forever.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Wisconsin_Chief

And again, for the billionth time as well, that's not what 99% of us are saying.

99% of you aren't in agreement, lol. Why do you keep assuming otherwise?

I understand that you don't want lumped in with those whom YOU think are crazy, but do you understand that people think YOU'RE crazy?

Lets just not worry about who's theories are "crazy" and who's aren't.

The bottom line: Outcomes of games are predetermined.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Wisconsin_Chief

"Predetermined" is WWE. "Steering results" is not predetermined or scripted. The Chiefs technically could have still won the Bengals game, but they would have had to play literally flawless football and couldn't do so, but neither team did. The difference was without a doubt the officiating. That's not the same as saying something is predetermined.

Again, that's YOUR theory. There are people in this very thread who'd argue that no matter what, the Chiefs were not going to be allowed to win that game. And had the Chiefs played a "perfect game", a penalty would've been thrown to ensure the Chiefs lose.

[Graystoke]

Prediction:
Lions suck at rigging.

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Again, that's YOUR theory. There are people in this very thread who'd argue that no matter what, the Chiefs were not going to be allowed to win that game. And had the Chiefs played a "perfect game", a penalty would've been thrown to ensure the Chiefs lose.

Alright well since we're on the topic, what's your theory?

You really don't think there's any corruption in a multi billion dollar sports league, where the men at the top are all ruthless businessmen who will do anything to make an extra buck? It's not even something you'll consider?

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by Graystoke

Prediction:
Lions suck at rigging.

Maybe they rig for 1-15 seasons?

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by Wisconsin_Chief

Alright well since we're on the topic, what's your theory?

You really don't think there's any corruption in a multi billion dollar sports league, where the men at the top are all ruthless businessmen who will do anything to make an extra buck? It's not even something you'll consider?

Nope. The "ruthless businessmen who will do anything to make an extra buck" know that they have created a cash cow that can only be ****ed up by a huge scandal involving rigging of games. The NFL doesn't have to manipulate/rig/fix games to generate huge TV ratings and sell merchandise. There is literally nothing to be gained by steering outcomes/rigging/predetermining games.

These games are officiated by humans with other humans moving at high rates of speed. Things are going to be called incorrectly. The weak minded look at this imperfection as a confirmation bias to support their belief that games are rigged when their team doesn't win.

[wachashi]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

The night of football with historically the worst match ups of the week and mostly awful games, which still dwarfs anything else on TV?

TNF ratings proves the NFL can march out Jags vs Jets with no shenanigans and still have relatively great ratings, because they've watered down the league so much, games are generally close and people don't seem to mind watching awful football.

The NFL cares so much about keeping some regular season game against two small markets that's not even being broadcasted nationally close for the ratings, but **** the Chiefs in by far the most watched event every year, we'll make sure it's over by halftime.

I don't disagree with anything here.

Ratings are the lifeblood of the NFL and they have whole departments that analyze them with a fine-tooth comb. However, that does not prove the NFL is conspiring with referees to keep games close or pick winners and losers.

With respect to ratings, the NFL knows that protecting star QBs is good for business. Explosive offenses and high-scoring games are also good for business. And they have put rules in place to achieve both of those outcomes in the modern NFL.

[displacedinMN]

Next question

Do the owners know it is rigged and support it. If they do, how do they go about getting favors their team? do they draw names or take turns?