Lets look at officiating in key points of the first half of the last two Dallas games. I’ve said for years that bad calls “mysteriously” happen in the NFL at the exact points needed to keep the games close so fans keep watching. That is purely because of TV ad revenue, which depends on fans watching – and they don’t watch the second half of blowouts. Last year the NFL made 13 Billion in revenue with 5 Billion coming from the TV contracts.
I accidently deleted the tape of the Colts game but when they were up 7 and about to go up 14 to take control the game, the refs made several bad calls to stop the Colts (helping Dallas) and keep the game close. If Indy is up 14 at the half, the fans turn the channel, ad revenue goes down and the NFL loses money. No question they were terrible calls and they benefited Dallas.
In the Bucs game, look at the last drive of the half. Two minutes left, Dallas is up by 11. A three and out and Dallas is up by 11 or 14 at the half and fans change the channel. Lets look at consecutive plays on that drive:
2&10 at TB 25 – Winston hits Jackson at 24 yards but the refs add 15 yards for Gregory roughing the passer even though he hits Winston a half step after his release - well within the rules. Ball at the Dallas 36 followed by a 5 yard pass.
2nd & 5 at Dallas 31. 11 yard pass to Evans on a play where several TB OL are holding. Holding was called on both teams on similar plays throughout the game but not here.
1st & 10 at Dallas 20 – Winston throws to Evans in the End Zone, who flagrantly pushes off in the End Zone, directly in front of the refs. The announcers call it a blatant push off. No call.
2nd & 10 at the Dallas 20 – Winston throws 8 yards to Humphries. Xavier Woods makes a text book shoulder to shoulder tackle to knock the ball lose, making it a fumble or an incompletion.
Nope, the refs call Unnecessary Roughness, giving the Bucs a 1st and Goal at the 6. They score two plays later, the score is 4 points at halftime instead of 11 or 14.
Four out of five consecutive plays are bad calls. Fans keep watching, ad revenue comes into the networks and those Billions of dollars continue to roll into the NFL.
