Is the NFL rigged?

Is the NFL rigged? It is unlikely that each and every game's outcome is already decided, but a series of recurring controversies would make us question: there is more behind the scenes than just fair and straight competition. Questionable officiating, like the infamous missed pass interference call in the 2019 NFC Championship game, often occur at peak moments, leading to suspicions of subtle league influence. Besides, it is important to state that high-profile teams, such as the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots, make the NFL a very lucrative business, accounting for billions of dollars. With the high-revenue franchises that this league focuses on, along with headlines such as Tom Brady's miraculous 2020 Super Bowl win with the Buccaneers, questions can be raised about whether the outcomes are fabricated for entertainment and profit.

The suspicion escalates, especially with the league's bias towards star players such as unnecessary roughness calls on fair hits. Though having no actual proof, there could be reasons to believe the NFL is rigged, because of inconsistent refereeing patterns and the apparent favoring of specific teams and players. However, as fans, do we need more fair matches and greater neutralism?