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With Super Bowl LIX just days away, the NFL's officiating crew is pushing back against growing conspiracy theories that claim the league is favoring the Kansas City Chiefs. Amid heated online debates and fan speculation, NFL Referees Association executive director Scott Green didn't mince words.
"It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team," Green said in a statement on Tuesday.
The controversy has been swirling all season, with many fans convinced the Chiefs have been getting a friendlier whistle. The chatter has only intensified ahead of their showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles, as social media erupts with accusations that the league is rigged in Kansas City's favor.
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also addressed the noise earlier this week, calling the idea of a scripted season "a ridiculous theory for anyone who might take it seriously." But he acknowledged that officiating can always improve. "I'm proud of what they do, but that doesn't mean we're not trying to get better," Goodell said, hinting at potential rule changes regarding facemask penalties and even the introduction of a flopping penalty.
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Referees Association pushes back on Chiefs conspiracy theories
The theory that the NFL is secretly working to boost the Chiefs defies basic logic, yet it remains a dominant storyline. As The Ringer's Rodger Sherman pointed out in a detailed analysis of penalty calls, the numbers don't the claim that Kansas City gets preferential treatment. In fact, there's just as much evidence to suggest the Chiefs get penalized just as often-if not more-than their opponents.
But at this point, logic isn't driving the conversation. Fans frustrated by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' sustained dominance over the past seven seasons-where they've amassed a staggering 107-29 record-are searching for any explanation other than "they're just really, really good."
"We're in year seven of watching Mahomes's team be better than our favorite teams," Sherman wrote, "and at a certain point, it's easier to imagine a vast conspiracy than to it that our teams can't beat these guys."
As millions tune in on Sunday night, the cycle will continue. The first time Philadelphia gets flagged, expect the internet to explode with sarcastic-and not-so-sarcastic-claims that the fix is in. But Green wants to make one thing clear: "You can rest assured that on every single down, NFL officials... are doing everything humanly possible to officiate every play correctly."