2023 NFL Week Two After Further Review, Part Four

Welcome back.

That this is Part Four already and we aren't even to video-compilation land yet is an idea that this was one of the most tampered weeks (or, maybe chagrin to some blog readers and friends who rightly believe I should be more RL than football, research delving up more material this week!) in recent NFL memory.

San Francisco-LA Rams RESULT AND SPREAD.

This was so egregious, I already covered it.

More clear proof @nfl is #rigged for #sportsbetting to cover the spread yesturday #rams #nfl Check out Gavin McHugh's video! #TikTok https://t.co/bhDtVMjld4

— NickGQ™ (@NICKGQNYC) September 18, 2023

But the thing is, you're down 10 with 18 seconds to go on the 36-yard line.

If you play to win the game, you need two scores, so you probably have one shot:  One chance to advance, kick the FG (from 53 or less unless you scored a TD), onside, get the other score.

So you throw the ball across the middle, running too much clock to get two scores.

THEN you kick a useless field goal...

Except that NFL RedZone title sponsor Draft Kings has the line at SF -7.5 .  Boom.  It's so obvious, even Dan Moldea picked it up.

Yesterday.  He is now aware of at least a small portion of my work.

This is one of the reasons he makes the claim that the NFL always wanted sports betting, so they could control the books.  He said it on Nightline three decades ago and was openly slammed for the practice.

Here is what I said about the NFL embracing and profiting from the betting action in September 1989--34 years ago when they were still condemning it. . . . That was a world-class prediction on national television that has since been completely vindicated. https://t.co/clmSLksm1C

— Dan E. Moldea (@DanMoldea) September 3, 2023

Washington-Denver.  RESULT.  Fuck Dan Snyder.

As I said at least one Commanders fan:  These are the calls you didn't get with Dan Snyder as your owner.

Denver has just Hail Maryed successfully, ball in the air at the gun.

But they need 8.  So this happens on the two-point attempt.

Carolina-New Orleans.  SPREAD, MAYBE RESULT TOO.

This one at least makes more sense than the 49er-Ram fiasco above.

But another game where two Dramatic Finish Setup [tm] scores get the game from New Orleans leading by 14 to the line (across all apps and casinos VegasInsider.com tracks) of NO -3.

But then the onside kick gets no one near the ball to recover it (even so far as the one player who could've realizing he's not 10 yards advanced, so he can't!), one QB run later, and NO bettors lose the win money as the game pushes at -3.

Pittsburgh-Cleveland.  HOO BOY.

I'm going to actually make a claim some might find absurd on this one.

I think the NFL was actually playing both ways on this game, and, late, finally decided to cut ABC a solid (as it really appeared that ABC's coverage of the game was slanting heavily Pittsburgh -- including their use of the Terrible Towel song "Renegade" in a number of clips!).

Why was Minkah Fitzpatrick neither ejected nor even considered for a multiple week suspension for this hit which might well have ended a high-profile running back's NFL career, if not ability to ever walk again?!?!!?!?

Why does this happen on the first play from scrimmage, a Cleveland defender openly, on-camera, yanking another Cleveland defender off the play so Pittsburgh can score a pick-six?

¡PICK 6 ON THE 1ST PLAY!#Browns 0-7 #Steelers pic.twitter.com/RAxEOvwcJv

— NFL NEWS 🏈 (@CrazyNFL_) September 19, 2023

Why is DeRapist Rapist not ejected for this, while protesting one of two facemask penalties he received?  (And then the NFL has to cover up and lie for his assaultive ass and state it "didn't rise to the level of a foul" when we damn well know far less has been ejectable in previous instances?)

Deshaun Watson pushing referee #NFL pic.twitter.com/a2MJ2vTLyZ

— SIDELINE REPORT (@SIDEL1NEREPORT) September 19, 2023

I could probably go on, but it's clear that, at that point, the NFL had both hands in this game -- Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if some degree of high-end nonpublic real-time ratings were coming in to see which way the NFL wanted to stick it's (middle) finger in the air and see which way the wind blew!!