Roger Goodell and Bills vs. Chiefs (Photos via Getty Images and Twitter)
A significant NFL rule change is reportedly on the horizon, one that should greatly reduce the amount of officiating controversies that have plagued the league for years.
According to a report from Mark Maske of the Washington Post, a 2025 NFL rule change could feature the implementation of “an electronic system” to help measure first downs to help officials properly spot the football:
“The NFL will consider implementing an electronic system for measuring first downs during the 2025 season, according to a person familiar with the league’s planning on the matter.
The system, which the NFL has tested in game conditions in recent seasons, would involve the football being spotted manually by the on-field officials before the electronic system would determine whether that spot resulted in a first down. That system requires such a manual placement of the ball following a play and does not incorporate, for instance, the use of a chip in the football to determine whether a runner reached the first-down spot.”
Controversy erupted in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, when the officials marked Josh Allen’s 4th-and-inches QB sneak short of the first down:
Other angles appear to show Allen crossing the first-down marker, but the officials upheld the ruling following a review. This immediately led to calls for an NFL rule change involving the use of technology instead of officials:
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An NFL Rule Change That’s Long Overdue
The controversial calls in the AFC Championship Game, namely the turnover on downs ruling, led to countless accusations of the NFL refs “rigging” and “cheating” for Kansas City. If the NFL wants to silence the conspiracy theorists, they can start by implementing the electronic system for all spotting.
Officials have a tough job, yes. But asking them to mark the football when they’re watching from the sidelines isn’t exactly fair in this day and age when advanced technology can solve the issue for them.
VIDEO: Hall Of Fame WR Terrell Owens Flat-Out Accuses NFL Refs Of “Fixing” Games For Kansas City Chiefs
Terrell Owens and Chiefs vs. Bills (Photos via Twitter and Getty Images)
You can add former NFL star wide receiver and Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens to the list of folks who believe the conspiracy theory that the referees are out to fix games for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Throughout the 2024 season, NFL referees have faced countless accusations of rigging games to help the Kansas City Chiefs. The defending Super Bowl champions have benefited from plenty of questionable calls this year, including the Divisional Round and AFC Championship Game vs. the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills, respectively.
If you’ve been on X/Twitter during Chiefs games this year, you’ve probably come across angry comments and accusations from fans about the league rigging games for Patrick Mahomes and company.
Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had to address it on Monday, telling reporters the theory is “ridiculous.”
During an appearance on the “It Is What It Is” podcast, Terrell Owens admitted that he’s buying the “refs are helping Kansas City” conspiracy theory:
“I played the game. I’m watching the game, and I’m looking at all these calls that’s benefitting the Kansas City Chiefs. Look at the game before against the Texans.Mahomes is smart…causing the flag. He’s getting the benefit of the…he didn’t even get hit, 15-yard flag. Will Anderson barely hit him, another that can stop the momentum of the game.
You can even go back to the last couple of Super Bowls, even when the Niners played the Super Bowl. Look at all the holding calls. If you watch that tape, bro, it was crazy. They were getting clotheslined. They were not calling it. It was blatant calls that were hits…it’s unreal. I’ve never thought I would say that games were rigged…bro, it is unreal at the amount of calls that are not called against the Kansas City Chiefs that are called against everybody else.”
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Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had to address it on Monday, telling reporters the theory is “ridiculous.”
The Texans-Chiefs game was highlighted by questionable roughing the passer and unnecessary roughness penalties drawn by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In the AFC title game, the officials curiously called Josh Allen short of a first down on a 4th-and-inches QB sneak, when it looked like he passed the marker.
So yes, the refs will very much be under the microscope for Super Bowl 59 on Sunday.
Terrell Owens Isn’t The Only Former NFL Star Who Believes This
Former NFL running backs Larry Johnson and Arian Foster have also claimed that the NFL is scripted/rigged. So of course, disgruntled fans are going to take their words and run with it as “evidence” that the league really is fixing games.
