[OT] NFL Playoffs - predetermined?

[Krug]

I'm curious - which earlier mistakes are you referring to?

The tackle on McCraies.

 

[reapersaurus]

But it doesn't really matter as the game isn't fixed.

ROFL!
That's a great truism which effectively renders any possible evidence to the contrary moot.

Thanks for helping me prove my point.

Seriously, I already feel a lot better - thanks, guys!

 

[Christian Walker]

Just wait for the Raider game tomorrow. I will bet a million pesos that the silver and black will get screwed somehow.

 

[jdavis]

Ok here is the big question. WHY? This game had already been put into the rotten timeslot for a playoff game, neirther team is considered a big draw ratings wise and if any player was trying to fix the game it would be caught, the DB in question might not be back next year due to a bad game, it happens, would you risk a Pro Football career to try and make some side money, which you would likely get caught getting (there is a reason it used to happen but has died out.). If the NFL is the ones supposedly fixing the game then they sure blew it last Saturday when they had two total blowouts that sucked the life out of the games ratings, and they definatly blew the chance at a all New York SuperBowl (last year when it would of meant big ratings with all the 911 stuff in New York although this year it would of been big too). The big fact to put on it all is that if it was one or a few players then they are committing career suicide and probably blowing any chance to ever get anywhere with anything Football related ever again, if it is the NFL then they are gambling on compleatly destroying the game forever (who would watch the game if they thought it was fixed, this isn't the WWE.) not to mention they have really blown it ratings wise in the last couple of Super Bowls. You have to remember that there is just too much on the line anymore to try something like this, 50 years ago the players didn't make squat so they were willing to try to make a few bucks on the side, who would blow a career making millions of dollars a year to pick up a couple of grand gambling. Not to mention why would the NFL risk Billions of dollars a year just to gain a few tenths of a point ratings wise. Not every NFL game is exciting, playoffs or not, besides if the NFL was fixing the games why would they completely ruin their ticket sales for teams like the Bengals and the Lions.

I think it was just the case of a player blowing it in the big game, it happens all the time, they make one big mistake and then try too hard to make up for it and keep making worse mistakes. You also have to remember that this was a very tired Steelers team, when you get that worn out at the end of a game mistkes happen.

 

[Gizzard]

Ok here is the big question. WHY?

And if you buy into some sort of conspiracy to make the games close and interesting then why didnt the NFL bother to fix the Atlanta-Philadelphia game? ;-)

And you've got to wonder about that overtime field goal; I mean that poor guy had to make the same kick 3 times. I'm sure Steelers fans will complain about the second attempt and the roughing call, while the Titans fans will complain about the first attempt and how the play was executed before being called back due to time-out. I mean, whos fixing the game here and which side are they favoring?

Playoff game = high pressure. High pressure = human error. I'd actually be more suspicious if I didn't see people screw up.

 

[Larry Fitz]

You cannot bet on Pro wrestling in Vegas, this is because the outcome is pre-determined... you can bet on NFL games.... te people who run casinos in Vegas are not known for giving away money....

 

[pogre]

If NFL games were fixed during the playoffs I have to question why the PACK did not win last week. If you want big TV numbers you want the PACK and the Giants to win. Fixing games to allow Atlanta, SF, and TN to win is not logical $-wise.

I believe a lot of sports events are fixed - maybe even some football - but I think it is least likely in the NFL.

 

[drothgery]

If NFL games were fixed during the playoffs I have to question why the PACK did not win last week. If you want big TV numbers you want the PACK and the Giants to win. Fixing games to allow Atlanta, SF, and TN to win is not logical $-wise.

Well, it's probably a good idea to get a good regional spread for playoff teams. Teams with a history and national following aren't enough. Both Mets-Yankees and Angels-Giants got terrible ratings when they played in the World Series.

The NFL started out okay, with the Giants, Jets and Eagles from the northeast; the Packers, Colts, Browns, and Steelers from the midwest; the Titans, Falcons, and Bucs from the Southeast; and the 49ers and Raiders from out west. But the entire midwestern contingent is gone after six games, and today could either nearly wipe out the southeast or completely eliminate the west coast (everyone expects the Bucs and Raiders to win, but it's not at all certain).

Right now, the Super Bowl will be the Eagles, Bucs, or 49ers vs. the Raiders, Titans, or Jets. The NFL would hate to see Jets/Eagles, 49ers/Raiders, or Bucs/Titans, and wouldn't be all that keen Eagles/Titans (which is what I expect) as neither team has much of a national following. The matchup that the oddsmakers seem to expect expect is Raiders/Eagles, and that would be pretty good TV.

 

[stevelabny]

why the NFL isnt fixed:

the NFL might be run by morons who are so afraid of hopped-up players killing someone in response to a taunt that they have BANNED all forms of trash-talk (the most ridiculous thing ever)
BUT they know where they get their money from.
People watch football because people BET on football. PERIOD.
football in general and the Super Bowl in particular are the most bet on events all year long.
If the general public EVER decided that football was fixed, the entire league would be decimated.

Note: the NBA on the other hand, is the exact opposite.
It doesn't get as many bets, and the NBA knows that their ratings depend on teams with followings and superstar players.
So claiming the NBA is fixed (lakers-kings 2002) is a better rant.

steve

 

[alsih2o]

It's really a ratings coup - AFAIK, they've never been higher.
*light bulb*

actually, the opposite is true, every network carrying footbal is losing money on it. but i bet you can see where that leads to fixing too.