Nfl Tackles Conspiracy Theories

As armored hunks prepare to engage in helmet-to-helmet combat at the New Orleans Superdome, some fans are refusing to take off their tinfoil hats. Super Bowl conspiracists are convinced that “bro, there’s just no way” the Kansas City Chiefs are in the running to become champions for the third year in a row after a 50+ year rut—without help from higher powers (aka the NFL).

Neil Armstrong ???? Patrick Mahomes

Conspiracists are accusing football’s corporate overlords of rigging the season in favor of Kansas City to juice ratings.

The belief in a coordinated effort by NFL management and game officials to aid KC has been fueled by some controversial calls by refs in recent games. Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes was even gently trolled by a reporter, who asked: “Your whole career, you have had so many great people help you win. So who is your favorite ref?”

• The NFL referees’ labor union shot back this week, calling claims of a pro-Kansas City cabal “preposterous,” noting it would require the collusion of 17 crews (totaling 138 officials) who reffed KC this season.
• Meanwhile, football analyst Warren Sharp explains that the sample size for the Chiefs’ penalty track record is small, while their low penalty count could also be thanks to good coaching and more playoff experience than their competitors.

It’s nothing new…last year, truthers claimed the NFL was aiding the Chiefs to further elevate the celebrity couple status of Taylor Swift and her boyfriend, KC tight end Travis Kelce.—SK