This has to be bitached about, those biased refs

[SmokinwithWilly]

Go back and watch the Lions Chiefs game this week and its the same thing. The NFL wasnt going to let the Chiefs be 2-4. The NFL is an entertainment league. They can have the refs steer games however they like. 

[cranky]

I am not a conspiracy guy and usually take these arguements with a grain of salt but I just read this study from the university of Texas El Paso where they looked at the Chiefs playoff games and they found a clear bias towards the Chiefs in those games. I know the Cowboys aren't the Chiefs but they are America's team and bring in ratings (ad dollars) so I can see the bias.

UTEP study showing officiating favoring the Chiefs

[ImfromClayton]

I don't think officials are biased. I think that is lunacy. That would be about the only way to break the multi-billion dollar money printing machine that is the National Football League. 

 

I do think some teams are harder to officiate than others. Some teams do a better job taking advantage of the rules. And officials make mistakes. We see it more with teams like the Cowboys and the Chiefs because they are on national TV more often. 

[PleaseCutStewart]

I think all personal fouls (late hit, roughing the passer, etc.) should all be reviewed when called on the field. And these are reviews that shouldn't take very long - that awful roughing the passer call could have very easily lost us the game.

[Candler Cat]

Prepare to get shafted this Sunday, we're playing a NY team IN NY, err NJ

Edited October 14, 2025 by Candler Cat

[SmokinwithWilly]

6 minutes ago, ImfromClayton said:

I don't think officials are biased. I think that is lunacy. That would be about the only way to break the multi-billion dollar money printing machine that is the National Football League. 

 

I do think some teams are harder to officiate than others. Some teams do a better job taking advantage of the rules. And officials make mistakes. We see it more with teams like the Cowboys and the Chiefs because they are on national TV more often. 

There was some pretty egregious missed calls vs the Chiefs in the Lions game, especially Kelce. The completion where he clearly used the ground to catch the ball. The hold in front of the ref as Pacheco ran by where the defender was trying to turn around and couldnt because Kelce had him by the jersey. Mahomes openly taunting after scoring a TD. 0 penalties after double digit the week before. Cmon. 

[TylerDurden]

I've said it a million times.  The NFL loves storylines above all else, and their prestigious/blue blood franchises and big market teams are always a source for that, so they look out for the company line in their games.  It's always been that way and always will.

[Chaos]

1 hour ago, The NFL Shield At Midfield said:

06 was the big Romo coming out party.  We got up 14-0 and then the Cowboys outscored us 35-0 the rest of the way.  They even set a franchise record for fourth quarter points, or something appropriately humiliating.

I think 2007 was the one where the DB just tackled Carter before the ball got there.  Matt Moore was the starter in that game.  I think that was the same one where Steve Smith made a catch on his back, the closest ref called it complete, and then Mike Carey came running from the opposite end of the field to call it incomplete.

Your memory is exquisite

[TylerDurden]

1 hour ago, ImfromClayton said:

I don't think officials are biased. I think that is lunacy. That would be about the only way to break the multi-billion dollar money printing machine that is the National Football League. 

 

I do think some teams are harder to officiate than others. Some teams do a better job taking advantage of the rules. And officials make mistakes. We see it more with teams like the Cowboys and the Chiefs because they are on national TV more often. 

If you think the NFL or NBA are worried about lawsuits or something like officiating scandals bringing down their empires, I think you're giving them way too much credit.  Go watch the documentary on Tim Donaghy in the NBA and who was involved and what he did.  One of the guys he worked with is still one of the league's top trusted officials, especially for playoff games.  IIRC, they have records showing he was the person Donaghy exchanged phone calls with the most during his time fixing games.  And his reputation is beyond horrible...  but he's untouchable.  I also encourage you to go watch DeMaurice Smith's Breakfast Club interview.  He laid out how for fans, we just know these organizations as a singular, public entity - like THE Carolina Panthers, or THE Dallas Cowboys- but, in actuality, he said that is the public-facing identity of an umbrella company comprised of countless smaller businesses and LLCs.  He is tasked with trying to audit their books, and he said these organizations are structured in such a way that even HE can't ever know what they truly make in a year.  It's impossible.  And now, this is just me speculating on top of that, but you think the league's themselves are structured similarly?  They are untouchable.  IIRC, they are recognized legally as "entertainment" organizations, thus protecting themselves in cases where integrity would come into question.  They are protected, layer, behind layer, behind layer.  Betting works because there is some degree of control that ensures the house wins more than it loses, by a lot. 

The short of it is, "Give them bread and circuses" and all that jazz.  These leagues operate with total impunity.  Again, it's not just because I'm a Panthers fan, but even if I wasn't and I watched Superbowl 50 without a dog in the fight I would walk away feeling like that outcome was controlled and influenced HEAVILY to where the Panthers were not given a level playing field.  The same poo happens every Sunday to teams playing those blue blood franchises and ones with intriguing storylines. 

[PNW_PantherMan]

4 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

Betting works because there is some degree of control that ensures the house wins more than it loses, by a lot. 

[fanpanther]

1 hour ago, cranky said:

I am not a conspiracy guy and usually take these arguements with a grain of salt but I just read this study from the university of Texas El Paso where they looked at the Chiefs playoff games and they found a clear bias towards the Chiefs in those games. I know the Cowboys aren't the Chiefs but they are America's team and bring in ratings (ad dollars) so I can see the bias.

UTEP study showing officiating favoring the Chiefs

I didnt see that many bad calls in the panthers cowboys game, but the chiefs especially in the playoffs were getting every single call they could get then the refs when it didnt matter would throw a call towards the other teams.  That I believe was the taylor swift effect.   But its crazy just thinking about how easy it is to change a game.  You dont need but a single ref to make a few close calls go towards one team over the other and in the nfl that is the game.  

[electro's horse]

18 hours ago, outlaw4 said:

Peppers tipped that field goal against the Cowboys in 2005. Twenty years later, not much has changed with the refs.

i get it. I was at the game. it was the lightest graze he could do and technically still touch it. 

i don't really see the need to zapruder film him getting a few cells on the ball.

we as a fan base need to let this go. Dallas has barely been a competitive franchise since the Panthers entered the league. 

[electro's horse]

3 hours ago, cranky said:

I am not a conspiracy guy and usually take these arguements with a grain of salt but I just read this study from the university of Texas El Paso where they looked at the Chiefs playoff games and they found a clear bias towards the Chiefs in those games. I know the Cowboys aren't the Chiefs but they are America's team and bring in ratings (ad dollars) so I can see the bias.

UTEP study showing officiating favoring the Chiefs

This is the best study. Like empirical evidence. I encourage people to read it. The Chiefs get calls not even peak New England got. 

[PNW_PantherMan]

Just now, electro's horse said:

i get it. I was at the game. it was the lightest graze he could do and technically still touch it. 

i don't really see the need to zapruder film him getting a few cells on the ball.

we as a fan base need to let this go. Dallas has barely been a competitive franchise since the Panthers entered the league. 

Basically 30 years since their last championship.