“The NFL is Rigged”

What constitutes a catch in the NFL? Do you know? You might think you know what a catch is. You might even know the rules and all the minutiae down to the letter of the law. But there’s one thing you don’t know. How will the officials on the field and subsequently the eye in the sky at NFL headquarters in Manhattan, interpret the rule on any given Sunday in any NFL stadium.

In baseball, home plate umpires have slightly varying strike zones but if there’s consistency, players will adjust. If the strike zone moves during the game, frustration sets in with both pitchers and hitters.

The same is true in football. If you call the game a certain way, do it with consistency. And when there is no consistency, it paves the way to controversy, unnecessary losses and even worse – conspiracy theories that compromise the game’s integrity. Outcries that the game is rigged. And the disingenuous Roger Goodell just doesn’t give a rat’s ass what you think as long as you swipe right for that next deposit into your Draft Kings app.

But back to a catch…

You would think that the league prefers consistency from the officials across the league. But the NFL officials and those invisible eyes in the sky can’t even provide consistency in the same game! Consider for example, the Thursday night game between the Falcons and the Bucs. Take a moment to review these two plays that were ruled a catches in Tampa.

Not a TD by rule, but not clear enough evidence to overturn the TD call on the field. The inconsistencies continue lol
pic.twitter.com/khzCkOu8QR

— (@suttondef) December 12, 2025

Bijan Robinson catch and fumble. This was reviewed and the call the field stands as a fumble pic.twitter.com/WTc8y89Dgk

— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) December 12, 2025

Both plays were reviewed and neither review found sufficient evidence to overturn the calls made on the field.

Now, let’s revisit the Ravens v. Steelers last Sunday.

Aaron Rodgers appears to be intercepted by Teddye Buchanan following a batted pass at the line of scrimmage. Clearly, Rodgers doesn’t complete the catch and is stripped of the ball by Buchanan. The ruling on the field is almost immediately, “Ravens ball”. The eye in the sky saw it differently and overturned the call on the field without sufficient evidence to do so.

Aaron Rodgers breaks up the would-be interception. He instead turns it into his 4th career catch.

Love these types of plays pic.twitter.com/LmYiZxZHTv

— NFL Interceptions (@interceptnfl) December 7, 2025

Looks like #Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers never clearly had possession of the ball this was called a catch pic.twitter.com/oJhdseRZU1

— Theconnectsport (@theconnectsport) December 8, 2025

Later in the same game, Isaiah Likely makes what appears to be a go-ahead touchdown catch but apparently, extending the ball after 2 feet are down with the ball secured isn’t considered a football move. The ruling on the field was a touchdown, but the call was overturned after review.

NOT A CATCH??? pic.twitter.com/6DVGReCUt2

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 7, 2025

What is different about this catch vs. the alleged catch that Rodgers was said to have made? If anything, the Likely catch more closely resembles the league’s definition of a catch.

The danger in all of this is that these erroneous reversals or confirmations calls to mind Goodell’s oft used cop out word. Integrity. These calls that don’t pass the eyeball test trigger controversy and as controversy swells, it approaches conspiracy levels given the league’s marriage with Vegas.

Let’s be honest, the game is nowhere near as entertaining as it was prior to the new millennium. The NFL has legislated out of existence so much of what we once loved about the game to promote player safety. Yet the league still forces players to suit up on Thursdays and Saturdays and in the case of Ravens Christmas games, even on Wednesdays. But that’s another story for another day.

When plays are reviewed and the ruling differs from what we see on the field, particularly late in games, the antennae go up. And then these dreaded 4 words rear their ugly heads on social media.

“The NFL is rigged!”

When the league got in bed with Vegas, they opened themselves up to such conspiracies.

Stadiums are no longer at capacity. The vibe in the stands is no longer the same. But ratings remain high and therefore the TV revenues flourish but not because it’s the great product it once was. But rather, because fans are now invested. They have their fantasy teams with money at stake. They have placed their bets and have their mobile devices nearby to see how those bets are coming along.

So, when a strange play comes along, such as the Raiders sending out their field goal kicker down by 10 with 5 seconds left in the game and the successful FGA covers the spread and point total, like a Led Zeppelin song, it makes me wonder. And probably you too!

BAD BEAT OF THE YEAR

The Raiders kicked a field goal as time expired to cut the lead to 7.

The Broncos were 7.5-point favorites and the total was 40.5 pic.twitter.com/owmkF86OAu

— Covers (@Covers) December 8, 2025

Integrity of the game. What a joke!

They just do this shit right in front of your face.

They’ve got you. They don’t care, daring us as if to say, “What are you going to do about it?”

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/12/12/lombardis-way/a-catch-in-the-nfl/