I think a lot of the game influence really came into play noticeably in 2001. We had the 9-11 events happen and who won the Super Bowl that year? The “PATRIOTS” of course. It was a team name everyone could get behind and bring us together, United in a cause. Even when Drew Bledsoe went down with an injury, in steps this scrawny little guy, a 7th round pick from the University of Michigan named Tom Brady who miraculously brings the Pats to the Super Bowl and defeats the GSoT! ?
IMO this is when the league became much bolder with their influencing of games. If they could take a certain team to the SB and get them the win, what all else could they do?