If the refs aren’t overwhelmingly biased against the Saints, please explain this: (1 Viewer)

[ElGatoNegro]

Saints fans are all well aware of this. We need more national media questioning this - but on SR, this is preaching to the choir.

It could also just be a case of confirmation bias. Bad calls against the Saints have taken place under the biggest of spotlights. And while it is certainly possible that there is some conspiracy against the Saints, it seems rather more likely to me that much of the diversion in those graphs could be due to factors other than conspiracy.

Why would you even watch football if you believe that the NFL is rigging games? I just don't get it. But I suppose it's a culture thing? Like WWE (not sure if that's what its called, but you know what I mean, that fake wrestling stuff with the undertaker guy)?

 

[wwepatriot]

It could also just be a case of confirmation bias. Bad calls against the Saints have taken place under the biggest of spotlights. And while it is certainly possible that there is some conspiracy against the Saints, it seems rather more likely to me that much of the diversion in those graphs could be due to factors other than conspiracy.

Why would you even watch football if you believe that the NFL is rigging games? I just don't get it. But I suppose it's a culture thing? Like WWE (not sure if that's what its called, but you know what I mean, that fake wrestling stuff with the undertaker guy)?

I think the bias officiating has become part of the culture to a point everyone is expecting it every Sunday.

Its like the NBA, all the people watching their team last year knowing darn well the Lakers was winning it all before the season ever began.

 

[ElGatoNegro]

I think the bias officiating has become part of the culture to a point everyone is expecting it every Sunday.

Its like the NBA, all the people watching their team last year knowing darn well the Lakers was winning it all before the season ever began.

I don't know man, I just don't see it.

At worst I think there may be a bias problem with some individual refs. At best I think the refs are just wildly incompetent, but I just can't buy that there is some bigger conspiracy. As soon as I believe that I wouldn't be able to watch football anymore.

 

[EvilMike]

The simplest explanation is usually the correct one. The refs have it out for the Saints.

 

[Clintonrebel]

Just a random fan here...
but aren't half the teams going to trend above average for penalties and half below?

Is there a graph showing the top 5 most penalized?
If the Saints are always one of the top 5 consistently over that many years, it would be more compelling evidence.

But also, it could just be a coaching mindset as well to play more aggressively or to coach into the grey area more than another coach.
To really determine that you would need to analyze a lot of plays of when holding should have been called and wasn't to see if some teams are getting called more and also getting away with more non-holding calls.

Interesting graph, but I think more data needs to be shown.

Actually, no, over a multi year period, all teams should regress to the mean. Only week to week, should there be big swings, and only season to season would your comment be in the ballpark. The graphs you see pre-2018 are what the graphs should look like for ALL teams over a long period of time. The last season and a half cannot be explained away.