Dear Roger Goodell,
It bothers me that many people in the US or who watch the NFL don’t understand that it is scripted for entertainment, engagement, money, and viewers. It is in front of our eyes.
I was having a chat with my buddy a couple of years ago who said that the NFL creates storylines to boost viewership, while I thought he was delusional then, I completely agree with him now.
Let’s start with the very significant referee “no calls” such as the blatant issued pass interference in the 2018-19 NFL Season NFC Championship game which featured two powerhouses, the Saints and the Rams. This obvious missed call denied us a Brees-Brady championship and brought us instead a snooze fest with Goff vs Brady. Brady won with no problem, 13-3 which led to his sixth Super Bowl title.
Another example is the tuck rule game in January 19, 2022 that ruled an obvious Patriots fumble an incomplete pass, where the Patriots with Brady winning their first Super Bowl, jumpstarting their dynasty. The Tuck Rule was abolished in 2013.
The “Myles Jack wasn’t down” call is also controversial. Myles Jack, a linebacker of the Jaguars forced a fumble and had a potential big return to set up good field position. The officials ruled him down, killing all the Jaguars momentum to lose the 2017 AFC Championship game.
Other miraculous wins for the Patriots include the 2017 Super Bowl, with the Seattle Seahawks throwing the ball at the 1 yard line instead of giving it to Marshawn “Beastmode” Lynch. While this is not an official mistake, it seemed pre-destined for them to win it. How can a coach make this mistake on the biggest stage of football?
Two years later in 2017, a similar Super Bowl miracle victory occurred in the 28-3 comeback, which seemed very scripted and pre-destined for the Patriots to win it, with even former Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins speculating that the game was rigged, although there is no actual evidence.
Furthermore, The Patriots had more suspicious moments such as the “Spygate” and “Deflategate.” The “Spygate” in 2007 was where the Patriots were accused of videotaping the New York Jets defensive signals, leading to fines and draft pick penalties. The “Deflategate” in 2015 was where the Patriots got accused of intentionally deflating footballs below the required pressure levels. They got fined 1 million dollars as a team, a 2016 first and a 2017 fourth round draft pick.
Notice how all these “no calls” and “scripted moments” above apply to one team: The Patriots. I believe that the rise of the Patriots dynasty reads like a flawless movie script that no one would believe: a 6th-round gem buried as the 4th-stringer on the depth chart, completing a legendary comeback arc from the edge of the practice squad to the top of the world.
Can you think of another team that got helped as much as, or close to the Patriots?
The Chiefs.
The Chiefs also had some very controversial decisions and script-esque moments that went their way. This looked very similar to how the Patriots created their dynasty, through critical ref calls and cheating scandals. It was as if the NFL wanted these dynasties to be made from the start.
An in-game situation versus the Bengals occurred in the 2023 AFC Championship, where the Chiefs had a “do-over” down in the 4th quarter. After a 3rd and 9 sack, the Chiefs were forced to punt. However, the officials announced another play of the same down and distance, because apparently an official had attempted to stop the play due to the clock not working. The Chiefs punted nonetheless, but got a legitimate chance at such a big stage.
In addition, there are several suspicious examples of Mahomes getting protected by the NFL, flagging easy calls as unnecessary. There is literal proof of defenders purposefully evading Mahomes to protect him, as he is the “face” of the NFL, similar to Brady. Many holding calls were also missed in the 2024 Super Bowl versus the 49ers, which led to another Chiefs win.
And what about star Tight End Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s sudden emergence as a power couple on one of the most marketed and supported teams in the league which brought much attention to the league due to the “Swifty” fans. Actual relationship, or a forced one?
The similarity between the rise of these franchises are very similar and seem fated.
Just before this season, the NFL official Instagram account posted a picture of every star team’s player looking at the Lombardi Trophy on Levi’s Stadium. Very next to the trophy and the stadium was Sam Darnold and Drake Maye, the two quarterbacks who started in their teams for the Super Bowl. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Roger Goodell, please don’t alter the outcomes of the games. Although it makes it more fun for us viewers, we would prefer reality.
Sincerely,
Batu Tamkan
Holleran, Andrew. “NFL Refs Accused of Showing Major Bias toward the Chiefs.” Yahoo, 13 Oct. 2025, sports.yahoo.com/article/nfl-refs-accused-showing-major-230000676.html. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Branch, John. “New Claim of Taping Emerges against Patriots.” New York Times, 22 Feb. 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/sports/football/22patriots.html. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.