WASHINGTON (TNND) — Do NFL referees favor the Kansas City Chiefs? That’s the question taking over Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans this week. Players are being asked and so is league commissioner Roger Goodell.
That’s a ridiculous theory for anyone (who) might take it seriously,” Goodell said during a Super Bowl media session.
The Chiefs are looking to make history, as the first team in the Super Bowl era to win three straight Lombardi trophies. But some say the referees are favoring Kansas City. First in Houston during the divisional round against the Texans with a pair of roughing-the-passer calls. Then again in the AFC championship game against the Buffalo Bills, when quarterback Josh Allen was ruled short of a first down on a pivotal fourth down play.
“The NFL Referees Association released a statement, addressing the allegations saying, “It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team.
Michael Lewis, a sports analytics expert and author says, these theories are nothing new. We’ve seen this throughout the history of sports.
“Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, they might get a little softer treatment from the referees,” Lewis said.
But with the rise of social media, Lewis says it’s more on display, and when your team keeps winning, everyone wants to see you fail.
“When you become a top-five team like the Cowboys or the Steelers or the Packers, you got a lot of fans but also have a lot of haters. It’s just how the league works,” said Lewis.
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