News/Commentary

Fans insist NFL is ‘RIGGED’ after latest Kansas City Chiefs miracle

December 1, 2024 | | Print Article

Ever since they became the NFL’s latest dynasty, the three-time Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs have benefitted from dubious officiating that has led to many fans believing that the games are rigged.

The latest in a long series of examples is the ending of the team’s Black Friday home game against the Las Vegas Raiders, hated divisional rivals since way back in the days when the two franchises were a part of the American Football League.

During the waning seconds of a surprisingly close 19-17 contest, the referees once again intervened at a critical juncture to save the Chiefs from their lackluster play in a game that they were heavily favored to win.

With fifteen seconds to go and the visitors moving into range for a winning field goal, Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell spiked the ball to stop the clock but wasn’t ready to receive the snap on the next play, resulting in a fumble that was recovered by the Chiefs as the red-clad masses who were packed into GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium went completely wild.

But there was the matter of a penalty on the play, a false-start on the Raiders that would have resulted in the play being blown dead, and the team keeping its upset hopes of the 10-1 Chiefs alive.

However, instead of walking off the five-yard penalty which would have still allowed Las Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson to attempt a long field goal to win the game, the officials huddled and bizarrely changed the call to an illegal shift, giving the Chiefs the ball and the win.

By saving Taylor Swift’s favorite team from a possible loss to the woeful Raiders, the refs also ensured that the Chiefs didn’t slip from their top postseason seed, potentially losing a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Fans took to X after the Kansas City “miracle” where they expressed their opinions that there’s more than simply incompetent officiating at play for the league’s marquee team.

“Had the clock been running at the snap, then by rule an illegal shift would convert to a false start. Since the clock was stopped (spike on the 2nd down play), an illegal shift is a live ball foul,” the NFL said in a statement explaining the malodorous officiating.

Granted that a field goal was no sure thing, especially after Carlson had already missed three attempts, but the bizarre ending did little to instill confidence in the legitimacy of the games.

It’s hard to just dismiss the skeptics as conspiracy theorists because, like the vote counting in California that persists for weeks after elections, the results always go in only one direction, to the benefit of the Chiefs.

With five games to go and the guys in stripes doing everything but suiting up in red, it’s hard not to see the Chiefs as a shoo-in for homefield advantage and another Super Bowl ring.

Chris Donaldson
Latest posts by Chris Donaldson (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles