Is the SB Fixed?

[Cras108er]

I am not a conspiracy theorist, but is anyone else suspicious of all these story book (and made for Tv) endings to the SB - a game that was in serious. Risks after all the blow out wins in the 90's? Case in point:

2001 - "Patriots" come out of no where to win SB after 9/11

Saints come out of nowhere to win SB the VERY YEAR the Super dome is reopened after Katrina

Steelers win the SB on the Bus' home turf (and last game

The Broncos win the SB in Peyton Manning's last game after being benched previously

The NY Giants come out of no where to upset the previously undefeated Patriots

The Titans lose to the Rams on the last play of the game, by a half yard.

The Steelers beat the Cardinals on Santonios toe tapping catch

The Patriots are faced with what appears to be a sure loss against the Seahawks, but Malcolm Butler comes out of nowhere and makes an improbable interception.

The Ravens win the SB on Ray Lewis' final game.

The Patriots appear to be blown out by the Falcons at half time, and then called me back to win the game in overtime - which happens to be the same year that Donald Trump rises from the heap of apparent defeat to beat Hillary Clinton. And do 't forget the whole Roger Goodell/Deflategate storyline.

I could go on, but I just wonder about these suddenly super endings. I'm not even sure how the conspiracy would occur, but it just seems a bit too coincidental to me. If Cleveland comes out of nowhere to suddenly win a SB, I'll know something is up. (lol) Thoughts?


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[Steeler Pride]

If Cleveland comes out of nowhere to suddenly win a SB, I'll know something is up. (lol) Thoughts?


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If Cleveland wins a SB everyone better have one hell of a party because the world is probably coming to an end the next day.

 

[paperclip]

all those toe-taps and end of game interceptions..... people still have to catch the ball.

BUT, that holding penalty that put the falcons out of FG range (after the sack). Shouldn't the missed facemask penalty offset that one?

 

[Cras108er]

all those toe-taps and end of game interceptions..... people still have to catch the ball.

BUT, that holding penalty that put the falcons out of FG range (after the sack). Shouldn't the missed facemask penalty offset that one?

Yeah, that's the part I can't figure out, because there have been some circus catches in the mix (starting to be more than you can even keep up with), but the NFL couldn't have written better endings for these games. lol


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[MTC]

It does seem something is up. Very WWEish indeed. That's what money does though

 

[wig]

The Falcons did some dumb **** late in that game. Why they didn't just spread out the P*ts and then run up the middle, eat clock and then kick the FG to go up 11 I don't know. BUT ~ the late holding penalty with nobody seeing the P*t defender tearing the receiver's head off... Then later, the interference penalty called on the throw in the EZ. Sure, that was interference, but in the AFC championship game NE did that at least 3 times and more blatantly to Pittsburgh receivers and there were no flags thrown at all... but suddenly in the SB it's a penalty?

No, This game had way too much of a World Wrestling Federation Made-For-TV feel to it. I was wondering when Vince McMahon was going to step out of the shadows. Regardless though, as usual the Falcons made some pretty bad decisions that ultimately lead to their being in a terrible position. Did they even stop 1 drive in the entire second half from scoring SOME points? Seriously?

Again, statistically very much like an asterisk...

 

[MTC]

When ATL had the ball in the 4th. Run the ball and attempt a FG at least. I don't understand the pass. Something had to be up

 

[oneforthebus]

I just don't think some of the stuff that happens is "stageable". Let's not forget how many of these players are basically illiterate...I don't think they all have the intellect to carry off these kinds of acting jobs and keep it all secret. Not one disgruntled player ever spilled his guts? I don't buy it.

 

[MTC]

I just don't think some of the stuff that happens is "stageable". Let's not forget how many of these players are basically illiterate...I don't think they all have the intellect to carry off these kinds of acting jobs and keep it all secret. Not one disgruntled player ever spilled his guts? I don't buy it.

All theories aside. There is one theory that holds up well. And that is: **** the Patriots

 

[Cras108er]

I just don't think some of the stuff that happens is "stageable". Let's not forget how many of these players are basically illiterate...I don't think they all have the intellect to carry off these kinds of acting jobs and keep it all secret. Not one disgruntled player ever spilled his guts? I don't buy it.

Remember, not everyone has to be in on the fix. As someone said, the increasingly inconsistent officiating provides a great convert for influencing the outcome of games. Not sure if coaches would be involved.

It almost seems like there has been some instruction in terms of strategy (I.e. Avoid blow outs at all costs). Notice the networks' strategy of cutting out of games that are "no longer competitive," and the NFL's flexing of games. It's obvious the NFL has a vested interest in having "competitive" games.

Coaches consistently go conservative after building huge wins, despite seeing time and time again how that strategy can and does backfire. J/S


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[oneforthebus]

Remember, not everyone has to be in on the fix. As someone said, the increasingly inconsistent officiating provides a great convert for influencing the outcome of games. Not sure if coaches would be involved.

It almost seems like there has been some instruction in terms of strategy (I.e. Avoid blow outs at all costs). Notice the networks' strategy of cutting out of games that are "no longer competitive," and the NFL's flexing of games. It's obvious the NFL has a vested interest in having "competitive" games.

Coaches consistently go conservative after building huge wins, despite seeing time and time again how that strategy can and does backfire. J/S


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Inconsistent officiating cannot guarantee an outcome though. And you see mistakes on both sides in every game. Anyone who says they don't just isn't being honest with themselves. It's just not a very effective means of "fixing" anything.

As far as coaches going conservative, you'd be hard pressed to find any coach of any sport who wouldn't go conservative with a lead like that. Giving up big plays or turnovers can be every bit as devastating as being too conservative can.

 

[hook]

all those toe-taps and end of game interceptions..... people still have to catch the ball.

BUT, that holding penalty that put the falcons out of FG range (after the sack). Shouldn't the missed facemask penalty offset that one?

That facemask play you are talking about, they both had fingers on each other's grill on that play. Hell, the *Pat's guys helmet came off.

I hate the *Pats as much as anyone, but you have to hand it to them. They are a prime example of a great coach with average talent usually beats an average coach with great talent.

 

[mightyguru]

all those toe-taps and end of game interceptions..... people still have to catch the ball.

BUT, that holding penalty that put the falcons out of FG range (after the sack). Shouldn't the missed facemask penalty offset that one?

I knew the fix was in at that point...blatant and embarrassing.

 

[Cras108er]

Inconsistent officiating cannot guarantee an outcome though. And you see mistakes on both sides in every game. Anyone who says they don't just isn't being honest with themselves. It's just not a very effective means of "fixing" anything.

As far as coaches going conservative, you'd be hard pressed to find any coach of any sport who wouldn't go conservative with a lead like that. Giving up big plays or turnovers can be every bit as devastating as being too conservative can.

Who was the NBA referee who was influencing outcomes of games a few years ago? It can be done. Maybe not with 100% control, but you could make a significant difference.


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[chipped ham]

all those toe-taps and end of game interceptions..... people still have to catch the ball.

BUT, that holding penalty that put the falcons out of FG range (after the sack). Shouldn't the missed facemask penalty offset that one?

The problem with that is that offensive players get called for grabbing the facemask now too, and Sanu (I think it was) ripped the patriots** defenders helmet right off. Both players committed the same infraction to one another, so the non-call didn't bother me.

 

[chipped ham]

Remember, not everyone has to be in on the fix. As someone said, the increasingly inconsistent officiating provides a great convert for influencing the outcome of games. Not sure if coaches would be involved.

It almost seems like there has been some instruction in terms of strategy (I.e. Avoid blow outs at all costs). Notice the networks' strategy of cutting out of games that are "no longer competitive," and the NFL's flexing of games. It's obvious the NFL has a vested interest in having "competitive" games.

Coaches consistently go conservative after building huge wins, despite seeing time and time again how that strategy can and does backfire. J/S


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Well of course they do. If anyone of us was running some kind of sports league, I would have to imagine we would want to see competitive games instead of blowouts. This is hardly convincing of a "fixed" league.

 

[Steel Chooch]

I think and have for some years now that the ref's are in Vegas' pockets. Am I not right that there is a separation with the league and the refs? A simple holding call or pass interference at a crucial point of the game can turn a game even if it's a few points. Just sayin...

 

[wig]

You want to convince me that the P*ts were completely useless for the entire first half and then scored, what? 28 in the 2nd half completely unanswered? While Atlanta did nothing but go backwards.

Honestly I don't think the Falcons stopped 1 drive by the P*ts from the last drive of the 2nd half on. If that wasn't a made for TV, fairy book ending, I don't know what was. If the game wasn't fixed then at the very least the P*ts were ******* with the Falcons in the first half. You don't just turn that **** on like that against a team that's been kicking your *** up and down the field for 28 minutes. It doesn't happen.

It's almost like a statistical impossibility.

 

[oicu8ad]

The Titans lose to the Rams on the last play of the game, by a half yard.

THIS one always gets me. You always hear they were one yard from winning the game.

NO, they were one yard away from being DOWN BY ONE with the option to attempt an extra point to TIE it up and send it to OVERTIME. Or one yard away from an attempt to go for two to win it.

They were NOT one yard away from winning.

 

[ark steel]

The only 2 or 3 that give me pause are the first *'s win, the Bettis SB and Stabbit's last SB.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

You want to convince me that the P*ts were completely useless for the entire first half and then scored, what? 28 in the 2nd half completely unanswered? While Atlanta did nothing but go backwards.

Honestly I don't think the Falcons stopped 1 drive by the P*ts from the last drive of the 2nd half on. If that wasn't a made for TV, fairy book ending, I don't know what was. If the game wasn't fixed then at the very least the P*ts were ******* with the Falcons in the first half. You don't just turn that **** on like that against a team that's been kicking your *** up and down the field for 28 minutes. It doesn't happen.

It's almost like a statistical impossibility.

Their winning so consistently is a statistical improbability if not impossibility.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I've never seen a defensive holding called on three consecutive third downs. That was unreal.

 

[chipped ham]

I've never seen a defensive holding called on three consecutive third downs. That was unreal.

I can't remember a sequence like that either, but all three were pretty blatant. For the first half, Atlanta was using the Ravens strategy; mug the oppositions players, deal with potential penalties, make plays to hold them to zero. It worked for a half of football.

 

[Omar10213245]

lol I'm surprised it took as long as it did for someone to inevitably post one of these ridiculous conspiracy/rigged threads.

 

[SteveA]

All or nothing in these games.....Great men rise up & lesser men shrink......