First, let me be clear: as a Vikings fan, I have no dog in this fight.
Having said that, this 'owl seriously makes me doubt the integrity and authenticity of the game; I think to say that 80% of the penalties called on Atlanta were "questionable" is pretty conservative.
The flag on the second two point conversion had zero justification.
Atlanta's defense having to deal with three mulligans in a row, when only one of the holding calls was justified, was appalling.
WWE has built a business around telling it's audience a story, and I'm starting to think the NFL has done the same thing.
I don't throw the "refball" accusation out lightly, but this game was pure refball after the second half.
During the game they even featured a spot on how many sports championships New England has produced over the years; isn't it fortuitous that things always seem to go right for clubs based in the most white, affluent, suburban, old money region in the country?
I'm not even angry, I wish I was, in all honesty, that's the problem: I don't feel anything, this game was so obviously rigged it's impossible to have any meaningful emotional response to it. I felt the same way I felt when the heel manages to win/retain a title through underhand methods.
It's short-term, impulsive, and masturbatory. I'm starting to think the NFL is comprised not of athletes, but entertainers.
I think I'm done giving a shit about football. At least I still have hockey and MMA.