NGT- Does Mahommes get special treatment?

[MightyGiants]

https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1883521803521556693

[DaveBrown74]

There is zero doubt that the Chiefs get a great whistle, especially when it comes to Mahomes. This was true to some extent with Brady, and we see it in other sports with superstars.

I think it has gotten really noticeable with the Chiefs though.

[Bob In PA]

Does Mahomes get special treatment?

Even with my lousy memory, fresh in my mind is the supposed "personal foul" call in last week's game.

They ought to be ashamed of themselves... it's all too "obvious" even, IMO, for casual observers.

Bob

PS. IMO, especially in the playoffs, and especially in early playoff games, the NFL do all they can, within the general bounds of fair play, to ensure that (1) the regular season has meaning; (2) as many star players as possible (those who draw the largest audiences) go on to the next round; and (3) aside from those two points, ensure that a good team who suffered a key injury or two early in the season (adversely affecting their final regular season record), gets a chance to be in the playoffs.  Those criteria are not completely "one-sided" (in favor of guys like Mahomes) but they are certainly not adverse to certain players benefiting from a few questionable decisions.

[files58]

Yes he does. Nothing infuriates me more than the QB dancing around, getting away, running, and allowed to slide and not get hit. It's bs. This is a championship game, you get one shot, and that includes one shot at a hit. You are there to win, period. Let's just say it's worth fifteen yards to take a shot to get him out. Nothing at the head, everything else is fair game. Last year in the championship game the Eagles targeted Purdy's arm, you can see it the way they rushed him. The Bills should target Mahomes' lower leg. Let the controversy begin, it will give the talking heads something to talk about. The owners will tell you it's about protecting players. True, but the reasoning maybe not what the average fan thinks. They pay these guys(QB's) inordinate amounts of money, it's about protecting assets from becoming non-performing assets. Remember we keep getting reminded football is a business.

[Philosophers]

Worse than Greg Maddux's generous strike zone he always got from umps.

[Bob In PA]

Reiterating my PS from above (and eliminating irrelevant portions of it and adding a few words to make my point below)......

PS. IMO, especially in the playoffs, NFL does all they can, within bounds of hopefully fair play, to ensure that (1) the regular season has meaning; (2) as many star players as possible go on to the next round; and (3) ensure that a good team who suffered a key injury or two early in the season gets a chance to be in the playoffs.  Those criteria are not completely "one-sided" (in favor of guys like Mahomes) but they are certainly not adverse to certain players AND TEAMS (ESPECIALLY HOME TEAMS) benefiting from questionable decisions, INCLUDING FAVORABLE SPOTTING OF THE BALL.

The spotting of the ball in the fourth quarter that essentially killed Buffalo's chances to win the game was a really tough call. They ruled there was not enough evidence to overturn the spot (I agree with that). However, the officials running in from the sidelines favored the home team and that was essentially all she wrote. Regardless, I think the Bills' inability to back up their head coach's HUBRIS throughout the game by boldly refusing to settle for field goals at the wrong time, going for two at the wrong time and generally being far too aggressive on 4th down (even by modern standards) was what REALLY lost them a winnable game.

Bob

PS. I believe there was also one instance where the Bills failed to go for two when IMO they should have done so.

[kartanoman]

Reiterating my PS from above (and eliminating irrelevant portions of it and adding a few words to make my point below)......

PS. IMO, especially in the playoffs, NFL does all they can, within bounds of hopefully fair play, to ensure that (1) the regular season has meaning; (2) as many star players as possible go on to the next round; and (3) ensure that a good team who suffered a key injury or two early in the season gets a chance to be in the playoffs.  Those criteria are not completely "one-sided" (in favor of guys like Mahomes) but they are certainly not adverse to certain players AND TEAMS (ESPECIALLY HOME TEAMS) benefiting from questionable decisions, INCLUDING FAVORABLE SPOTTING OF THE BALL.

The spotting of the ball in the fourth quarter that essentially killed Buffalo's chances to win the game was a really tough call. They ruled there was not enough evidence to overturn the spot (I agree with that). However, the officials running in from the sidelines favored the home team and that was essentially all she wrote. Regardless, I think the Bills' inability to back up their head coach's HUBRIS throughout the game by boldly refusing to settle for field goals at the wrong time, going for two at the wrong time and generally being far too aggressive on 4th down (even by modern standards) was what REALLY lost them a winnable game.

Bob

Good morning, @Bob In PA . Good talking points.

First, on the 4th down at midfield. There was a view, from the right sideline, which showed Allen's INITIAL push appeared to have achieved his best forward process on the play. The issue was that he was immediately pushed back and continued a second time. The question never asked was whether they placed the ball based on his initial lunge which was very close to the first down marker but the actual spot was a little shorter. Watch the replay again from the field, right side camera looking to the huddle ... man, it was very close!

As for their failed decisions to go on fourth down, as well as two-point conversions, well, while we can certainly conclude they were the difference in hindsight, it was clear the Bills were trying to go for the win and take the crowd out of the game. I don't blame them at all for that with a star like Josh Allen leading their charge. They made some, they missed some. In the end, they had the ball with three minutes left with destiny in his hands and, try as hard as they could, they didn't get it done, though that fourth down desperation throw almost getting caught would have been their proverbial "David Tyree" moment.

It was a great game and lived up to its billing. It's unfortunate it ended the way it did because I was at least hoping for overtime. But I feel bad for the Bills and now they have to regroup and try again.

Peace!

[Bob In PA]

First, on the 4th down at midfield. There was a view, from the right sideline, which showed Allen's INITIAL push appeared to have achieved his best forward process on the play. The issue was that he was immediately pushed back and continued a second time. The question never asked was whether they placed the ball based on his initial lunge which was very close to the first down marker but the actual spot was a little shorter. Watch the replay again from the field, right side camera looking to the huddle ... man, it was very close!

As for their failed decisions to go on fourth down, as well as two-point conversions, well, while we can certainly conclude they were the difference in hindsight, it was clear the Bills were trying to go for the win and take the crowd out of the game. I don't blame them at all for that with a star like Josh Allen leading their charge. They made some, they missed some. In the end, they had the ball with three minutes left with destiny in his hands and, try as hard as they could, they didn't get it done, though that fourth down desperation throw almost getting caught would have been their proverbial "David Tyree" moment.

k-man: I agree with all of that, including that there were good reasons for what they did.

It was still hubris, IMO, and you can't blame the coach for believing (as I do) that Josh Allen had a much better season than Mahomes and letting the chips fall where they may.

But I've observed that TOO MUCH of that attitude, combined with even just one or two decisions that are highly questionable (beyond aggressive, into the realm of dumb) sometimes (often?) transmits to the players that the team inwardly believes they're not as good as the opponent and (in a sense) comes off as desperation rather than supreme confidence.

Bob

[jgrangers2]

To me, it's more that every single close call seems to go their way. Yesterday, we saw it with both the Worthy contested catch inside the 5 and the back to back spots on 3rd and 4th down, with the second one being reviewed.

[Painter]

It does seem that way even if we discount the fact that the "media" have an incentive to stir the pot. That's not likely to change even if it doesn't seem quite so obvious in the Super Bowl's more neutral setting. As impartial observers- if we are that- all we can do is hope.

Cheers!

[files58]

Well let's hope the Chiefs get at least one more week where they seem to get all the close calls. If anyone can figure out how to slow Barkley it's Spags. Now about those close calls. Now if it hasn't been figured out yet I can be somewhat cynical. THERE IS ALOT OF MONEY RIDING ON GETTING TO AND BEING IN THE SB. The league wants the maximum amount of interest during the interminable wait till gametime. Buffalo vs Philly, not so interesting. Mahomes, possible threepeat, Taylor and Travis, Saquon, A.J.Brown, and his bestseller list, cheesesteaks, yada yada. One of the reasons for not resigning Barkley was his propensity for injury. The first quarter in two weeks would be the perfect time for that to crop up again. Nothing serious, just a tweak to take him out of the game. Screw him, he means nothing to me now(to quote Michael Corleone). Any type of Philly misfortune is a win for the Giants. We need all the wins we can get. Let's go KC.

[babywhales]

At the biggest moments they tend to get the benefit, that much is clear.

To that extent it is down right embarrassing at times.

The NFL is about entertainment and making money more so than competition; however, if it were about running a competitive league they should be nothing short of embarrassed.

[MightyGiants]

https://x.com/AndrewBrandt/status/1883914849962676709

[Bob In PA]

Well let's hope the Chiefs get at least one more week where they seem to get all the close calls. If anyone can figure out how to slow Barkley it's Spags. Now about those close calls. Now if it hasn't been figured out yet I can be somewhat cynical. THERE IS ALOT OF MONEY RIDING ON GETTING TO AND BEING IN THE SB. The league wants the maximum amount of interest during the interminable wait till gametime. Buffalo vs Philly, not so interesting. Mahomes, possible threepeat, Taylor and Travis, Saquon, A.J.Brown, and his bestseller list, cheesesteaks, yada yada. One of the reasons for not resigning Barkley was his propensity for injury. The first quarter in two weeks would be the perfect time for that to crop up again. Nothing serious, just a tweak to take him out of the game. Screw him, he means nothing to me now(to quote Michael Corleone). Any type of Philly misfortune is a win for the Giants. We need all the wins we can get. Let's go KC.

files: IMO great post! Bob

[Bob In PA]

At the biggest moments they tend to get the benefit, that much is clear.

To that extent it is down right embarrassing at times.

The NFL is about entertainment and making money more so than competition; however, if it were about running a competitive league they should be nothing short of embarrassed.

Chris: Even if that's entirely untrue, there is no doubt in my mind that, during the years of my lifetime, it has become more and more LIKELY to be true from the perspective of an "outsider" (i.e., fan). Bob