And even by not doing all those thing - by not playing a perfect game, we may still have won if not for blatant missed calls. This is my point. Given our recent experience and that of other teams (see Seattle getting completely robbed when SF committed blatant PI in the end zone on the last play of the season as an example) it is clear that the refs are doing what is required. These aren't one-offs anymore, and the refs don't suck. As I've stated elsewhere, the refs throw flags for minimal (if at all) offenses from half way across the field and then we are expected to believe they "miss" the obvious ones in front of their faces?

As fans we don't want to believe it. We love football and professional football in particular. I understand. It's a hard pill to swallow. I've been saying the NBA has been rigged for 30 years, and it is. There is more and more (and more) evidence which suggests the NFL is too.

The kicker to my thinking is the fact that the league has the resources to correct the problem, assuming they'd want it corrected, and it appears they do not since they refuse to leverage those resources.

The "sport" of football ends in college. The NFL is pure entertainment, and the league, at a minimum at best, is influencing the results.

I agree with refs but if we did a few things right we take them out the equation. The nfl wants big market teams to succeed so does the nba they make no qualms about its as plan as day. I also think the nfl punishes us because of Payton to be honest. And college football is tainted too but not as much as pro football. From the schools buying players things to get them to come there, its just not as talked about but it happens. To the boosters buy kids cars, drugs, hookers, etc. To the bcs and rankings, all of which has favorites for certain teams.