The Thumb on the Scale

It didn’t take long to see that the NFL really wants to keep the Lions in the game, if not to guarantee their finishing #1 in the NFC. Two major “missed” penalty calls against the Lions, plus Sam Darnold throwing every single pass two feet higher than when he’s actually trying to hit the receiver, and it’s the inexplicably inept second half against the Packers all over again.

I understand the NFC has to keep the games close. They have to script the excitement or half the TV audience turns off the game. But it’s really annoying when you can correctly call what’s going to happen after an organic play takes place that goes against the script.

I’m just hoping the script permits the Vikings to play all out in the second half.

UPDATE: Obviously not.

UPDATE: 4 times reaching red zone but not scoring a TD. 3 times having goal-to-go but not scoring a TD. 2 failed 4th-and-goal attempts. 1 missed FG. No other NFL team in the last 30 years has done all of that in the same game.

I guess the Lions defense just had their number, right? Just a lights-out game and the Vikings just came out a little flat, right? And how unfortunate was that shanked kickoff, right? It’s like listening to WWF fans insisting that wrestling is too real. It’s unfortunate that people won’t pay attention to genuine sporting contests that aren’t close, but I do wish the NFL puppetmasters would content themselves with keeping things close and dramatic instead of outright dictating the outcomes.

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