Super Monday. The day after the most American holiday outside of the Fourth of July and John Wayne’s Birthday. As we all go through our commute hungover, terrified at the prospect of no football for months, one thing weighed on my mind. Was this sacred of days tarnished? Was Super Bowl LIV rigged by the NFL?
Why Would Roger Do This?
Before we get into the how, we have to answer the why. Why would Super Bowl LIV be rigged by the NFL? Well, there are a few answers to that question
Andy Reid’s Legacy
Andy Reid is one of the most beloved NFL coaches. Going into Sunday, “Big Red” was ranked sixth in wins with 221 wins, with a .610 winning percentage. He also had the most wins by a head coach without a Super Bowl ring. Andy Reid is one of the better coaches in NFL history, just outside the “greats.” The NFL did not want another Marty Schottenheimer situation: a coach with over 200 wins without a ring. By giving a likeable head coach with 200 wins a ring, his legacy is cemented. The only knock against Reid is he “didn’t win more rings,” which is not a very good one. It also gives the NFL a win. Andy Reid is what all Americans strive to be. The man who celebrated winning the AFC Championship in the perfect way.
No one should be mad about Andy getting his ring. And they wouldn’t be, if the NFL wasn’t up to its usual shenanigans. Before we get into these shenanigans, there was another legacy at stake.
Patrick “Kermit” Mahomes
The NFL’s latest wonder kid. Putting up ridiculous passing numbers in his second season, passed for an unheard of amount of yards and touchdowns, and won MVP. That could describe two men: Patrick Mahomes, but also Dan Marino. Marino made the Super Bowl the year he won MVP in 1984, and after the team lost, people simply thought, “Oh, it’s not a huge deal. He’ll be back.” But he wasn’t, never reaching the big game again. That is what kept Marino out of the GOAT conversation: his lack of rings.
While one ring won’t propel Kermit into the conversation with Montana, Peyton, and Brady, it’s a good start. By getting this out of the way early, Mahomes will be in Canton. MVP, second player to pass for 5,000 yards and 50 TDs, and now Super Bowl MVP? If Mahomes is decent for the next 8-10 years, he is in. With this ring, the NFL has the next GOAT, who they hope will knock off Brady in the conversation.
The History
This is the NFL’s Centennial. While I predicted they wanted a rematch of Super Bowl One in Green Bay vs. Kansas City, I was half right. What better way to honor the game’s history then having one of the first AFC (then AFL) champions play in the big game, and have them win their first Super Bowl in 50 years? There isn’t one.
How Was Super Bowl LIV Rigged?
The answer to this question is pretty obvious: “bad” officiating. While I say “bad” because of the iffy calls, the refs Actually did their job: make sure the Chiefs won. If you paid attention to the game, it was pretty obvious. For example, watch Patrick Mahomes throw a 44 yard pass down 10 in the fourth. If you watch the line, you see Bosa beat his guy off the snap. Easy QB hurry, maybe even a sack, right? It should be, except the league decided the Chiefs could hold all night. Earlier in the game, while in their own end zone, the Chiefs line once again held Bosa, giving Mahomes more time. “But Kevin,” you’re probably thinking, “holding happens on every play, they just choose when to call it.” You’d be right, but I want to point out the Chiefs weren’t called for a hold at any point against the best front four in the NFL. Suspicious, isn’t it?
If you don’t want to admit the holding calls, you’re delusional, but fine. We’ll look at some things that are easier to see. Things like offsides, illegal hits out of bounds, and helmet to helmet hits. Those should be easy to see, right? Apparently not, because the refs missed calling all three of those on the Chiefs. 3rd and 14, nine minutes left in the fourth. 49ers are up ten, and trying to hold onto their lead. Garoppolo snaps the ball, but Chiefs DE Tanoh Kpassagnon got a head start.
This forced Jimmy G to roll out, and after rushing for three yards, heads to the sidelines. While essentially out of bounds, Rashad Fenton shoved Jimmy G to the ground. This should not be a penalty in the NFL, but officials call this most of the time, so why wasn’t it there? Because the NFL didn’t care about protecting Jimmy G or doing anything to help the 49ers win. This becomes apparent after a horrible helmet to helmet no call.
For a league so “dedicated to player safety,” shouldn’t they be paying attention for this sort of thing? No, not if you are doing everything you can to help the Chiefs win.
What Does all of this Mean?
Absolutely nothing. At the most, these refs get a one game suspension or a small fine, but probably not. The NFL won’t investigate anything, because they don’t want to find anything. They won’t pay large sums of money for an investigation with the intent of buying a result. They won’t interview players or the officials. And they won’t enter a lengthy legal battle over this. So, to Kansas City congrats on the Lombardi that you shouldn’t have I guess.
8 Comments
wow, the salt is abundant, there were many calls the chiefs should have gotten that they didn’t, i’ll give you yours but it happened both ways, and the chiefs still won. sorry your team lost son, better luck next year.
I would have beat either team, hands down. Still the best. Period!
I’m a huge Chiefs fan from Missouri, and have been most of my life. I started wondering myself if the playoffs and the Superbowls in particular were rigged for the past several years when the Patriots were always getting the right calls on the field in big games. After watching this years SB (and re-running it a few times) I have to admit, it now seems like the torch has been passed to Kermit and the Chefs. The defining moment came on that 4th Q play when, not only did the Chefs clearly jump early, but they also clearly got away with a late out of bounce push. I can excuse one bad no-call on a play, but TWO no-calls ON THE SAME PLAY favoring the same team just seemed to stink to high heaven. Feel sorry for the 9er’s . . but hey, welcome to the Chef’s world. Maybe next yr.
A trash team could have beat the 49ers with the refs cheating like that
your just salty
your just a salty boi
People. Believe. All. Tom. Brady. Super. Bowl. Wins. Were. Rigged,Fixed. He. Is. Not. The. Greatest. …Will. This. Season ,,Super,Bowl. Be. Fixed. For. Tom. Brady. .????