Who does the NFL want to win the SB?

[BuffaloRanger]

Clearly the NFL is fixed. Certain teams win with the benefit of several officiating calls or non-calls. Then the media claims that "it was ugly but they found a way to win".

Case in point, Bills vs Chargers this week. Hockulee was horrible, but bet me right now that he won't be officiating the SuperBowl. Quid Pro Quo Clarice.

Look at the Colts/Steelers playoff game last year. Didn't it look like the refs were biased against the Steelers. Could the NFL front office have told or insinuated to the Head Ref that the Colts should win? They tried everything to give that game to the Colts.

There will always be fans that won't even consider that in a billion dollar business, executives might not want the outcomes of certain games left up to chance. In most (not all) NFL games if you watch objectively you can see the calls and more importantly non-calls going in favor of a certain team.

So I ask again, who does the NFL want to win the SuperBowl this year? If it was the Chargers vs the Patriots in the AFC championship game which team would have the more favorable calls and non-calls go their way?

Even if you don't believe the NFL is capable of this, at least give your opinion on the above game, if only for entertainment purposes.

[LarryBoy]

Gotta tell ya, it makes me wonder.

I've had many of conversations on this subjuct after the last super dud bowl and the best conclusion we could come up with is that there sure is a hell of alotta money bet on these games, esp playoffs - and money talks.


I could see the NFL helping the Saints out a bit in the NFC, sure would make a nice story.

Makes me wonder...that's all.

[YardRat]

New England.

A fourth Super Bowl for Brady is going to be Tag's reitrement gift.

[ICE74129]

Nah the NFL knows they need a new team from a marketing standpoint. It will be the chargers.

[jamze132]

Considering the recent events in Louisiana, it would look good to ensure NO gets the ring, but I don't know if the NFL can help them as much as needed considering the Cowboys are playing lights out right now.

Of course the Cowboy's are "America's Team" and we are at war.

Obviously the Patriots for the simple fact that they were chosen as the "Golden team" after 9/11.

Maybe the Colts since Peyton Manning deserves a ring. It just didn't work out that way last year since Bettis decided he wanted to retire.

Maybe the Chargers? But I just don't see LT and his 30+ TDs he will score this year can trump NO, NE, Dal, and Ind.

The Bears? Not sure if they can make Grossman look good enough.

[Night Train]

I really don't blame you for posing the question that way.

After this last owners meeting prior to this season, I'm starting to believe it's all about promoting certain teams which return the greatest financial windfall to the League accounts.

Look at the abnormal schedule we were given, after Wilson voted no. Four home games after Thanksgiving and then ask our small market fans why they aren't buying tickets.

Integrity seems to be for sale.

[jamze132]

I really don't blame you for posing the question that way.

After this last owners meeting prior to this season, I'm starting to believe it's all about promoting certain teams which return the greatest financial windfall to the League accounts.

Look at the abnormal schedule we were given, after Wilson voted no. Four home games after Thanksgiving and then ask our small market fans why they aren't buying tickets.

Integrity seems to be for sale.

Back in the day when we had a great team, we always sold out our games in the snow. It was our advantage to have that weather. Hell, up until last year, Miami cried about always having to play in the cold at Ralph Wilson Stadium. I don't think the weather has much of an effect of whether or not the Bills sell out a game. I think it's the product on the field.

[Bufftp]

I don't believe the NFL is fixed.
Officials are human, and errors even out during the season.
Especially the non-calls. We remember the non-calls that should go in our favor, but we forget about the ones that should have been called against us. As fans we end up with a skewed perspective.

[BillsNick]

I think that they have multiple teams that they want to win. This is what I think they are in order:

1. New England - The love affair with Tom Brady won't end until he retires.

2. Colts - The NFL really wants their poster boy Manning to win his first SB

3. Chargers - The NFL loves these guys.

4. Dallas - Nothing needs to be said here.

[Historian]

All you have to do is re-watch last year's SB to see the bias.

[OpIv37]

Someone (I think Pride) posted a long thread about this a while back. Basically he said the NFL isn't exactly fixed, but the league has preferred outcomes and encourages the referees to make calls as such. Hence, big money/popular teams get favorable calls while teams on the brink or teams from smaller markets don't get the calls.

It does make sense. It would be nearly impossible to truly fix a football game- there would have to be too many people involved and someone would blow the whistle. Plus, you can never guarantee that someone won't accidentally fumble, drop a pass etc. on the team that's supposed to win.

But giving teams a slight advantage with favorable calls- that would only require a few officials (*cough- ED HOCHULI-*cough). You wouldn't even need the entire officiating crew to go along with it- just the head ref and 2 more.

[Earthquake Enyart]

Rank the teams by market size. That's the order that they favor.

[Night Train]

I don't think the weather has much of an effect of whether or not the Bills sell out a game. I think it's the product on the field.

Not argument here but we are defintely in a rebuilding phase and the schedule given to us was never going to result in selling out all 8 games. The " Where are the fans ? " threads here are beyond comical.

With less income and already with limited revenue due to market size, how can we compete long term with the big boys of the NFL ? We can't give the blockbuster deals others can and taking away prime home dates from a rebuilding team in the North only hurts us from turning the tables. How can we re-sign what few good players we have, if the income isn't there ?

This 2006 schedule did hurt us at the gate and there are some long term ramifications from it. The NFL did stick it to us.

[Gunzlingr]

I predicted that NE would win after 9/11 (as a joke at the time), and they the refs and the sudden emergence of the tuck rule handed them the Superbowl. I definitely think that the league has the officials influence game outcomes. I wouldn't be surprised if NO wins it all this year after Katrina. Just like we all knew that we would lose their first 'home' game last year.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Rank the teams by market size. That's the order that they favor.

When was the last time a NYC team was even in the SB? Oh yeah, the Giants got creamed in 2000.

[Night Train]

Rank the teams by market size. That's the order that they favor.

I'm starting to believe that. Except for certain circumstances.

This year, they are praying the Saints (no pun intended) are the chosen ones.

[ublinkwescore]

Nah the NFL knows they need a new team from a marketing standpoint. It will be the chargers.

See the Chargers' lucky call against Oakland the week before they played us.

[RBI90]

Does anyone have any actual proof of this, or is it all speculation? I looked at other teams message boards especially other teams with losing records or small market teams, and no one else is theorizing about this conspiracy.

[LTforMVP]

Does anyone have any actual proof of this, or is it all speculation? I looked at other teams message boards especially other teams with losing records or small market teams, and no one else is theorizing about this conspiracy.

Don't ruin a good thread by asking for facts or proof. The pure victim mentality of the fans in this thread is so hilarious I wouldnt want you to ruin it.

[Ickybaluky]

Don't ruin a good thread by asking for facts or proof. The pure victim mentality of the fans in this thread is so hilarious I wouldnt want you to ruin it.

Proof...

Isn't that what Terrence Keil's pharmacist is providing?