Are NFL Games Rigged? The Sports Community Think So

Following the awful officiating in the 2022 AFC Championship recreation, many sports enthusiasts are wondering: Are NFL games rigged? Details inside of.

Super Bowl LVII is around the nook, but are we certain any person will track in?

Following the disastrous AFC and NFC championship matchups, hundreds of enthusiasts took to social media to point out the very questionable officiating in both games, especially the AFC championship. In case you neglected it, the recreation was really shut; on the other hand, the refs referred to as some extremely susceptible consequences on the Bengals, resulting in their 23-20 loss.

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Since the AFC championship game's heartbreaking conclusion, #NFLRigged has been trending on Twitter. With over 45,000 responses, several NFL enthusiasts are recently ripping aside the officials and the league, feeling as though they each wanted Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs to play in the Super Bowl over Joe Burrow and the Bengals.

So, are NFL games actually rigged? Let's examine.

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So, are NFL games rigged?

Although one may argue that NFL games don't seem to be rigged, many enthusiasts have numerous considerable evidence that the officers called multiple comfortable penalties and neglected a number of pivotal calls during the AFC championship on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023.

For one, the officials gave the Chiefs a do-over early in the fourth quarter.

With the ranking nonetheless tied 20-20, Patrick Mahomes threw an incomplete pass on 2d down and compelled his workforce right into a third-and-nine play. Because it was once incomplete, the game clock used to be now not supposed to run; however, it persisted to run and no one perceived to notice. The Chiefs ran an unsuccessful third-down play, and the Bengals appeared to be in a excellent place, but officials blew the play useless. After resetting the clock, the Chiefs got a second probability at a third-down conversion.

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During the Chiefs second third-down alternative, Bengals defensive lineman B.J. Hill got here up big and sacked the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback; alternatively, cornerback Eli Apple was once penalized for defensive retaining, which granted the Chiefs a new set of downs. Luckily, the Bengals made many an important stops and compelled a punt.

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With lower than five minutes left in the recreation, Bengals defensive again Mike Hilton used to be referred to as for move interference. CBS laws analyst Gene Steratore mentioned it do not need drawn a penalty, mentioning all over the broadcast, "it's not a big foul to me in my opinion, guys. There's some movement there. But that's not a big hook and turn in my opinion."

On the different hand, enthusiasts are also claiming the officials grew to become a blind eye to obvious consequences involving the Chiefs — defensive end Frank Clark wasn't penalized for pushing Joe Burrow to the ground after he had already fired a cross. Also, offensive take on Orlando Brown blatantly held Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson at the finish of the recreation, however no flag used to be thrown.

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#NFLRigged continues to trend on social media.

Following the recreation, Bengals fanatics and non-Bengals enthusiasts took to Twitter and expressed anger over the officiating.

"Bengals got robbed tonight, worst officiated game I've ever seen," one fan said. "The refs missed 3 holds on the KC o-line before making that horrible call to put the Chiefs in field goal range. Disgusted, Bengals didn't deserve this. #nflrigged." Another wrote, "#NFLRigged not a Bengals fan, and they were robbed. Frustrating to watch as a football fan. The refs did not call a fair game."

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A third person added, "It's pretty bad when so many people are tweeting about @NFL with the #NFLRigged! People from across the fan spectrum are calling it rigged, and it was. The referee crew was clearly in it for the Chiefs. Just sad another reason to stop watching the NFL anymore until Goodell is gone."

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"The 4th quarter was one of worst officiated quarters ever, the only proof you need that #NFLRigged," a fourth fan tweeted. "The refs giving Kansas City a second chance on 3rd down. I mean, what in the f--k? It needs investigating #CINvsKC."

A fifth particular person commented, "It's not just Bengals fans, it's anyone that isn't a Chiefs fan that [is] questioning the integrity of the NFL after the AFC championship. Even former players such as JJ Watt, Danny Woodhead, and others. Even Steelers fans calling out the blatant bias against Bengals #NFLrigged."

What do you think? Is the NFL rigged, or was once the sport simply poorly officiated?

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