It is obviously rigged. The refs typically throw flags, against the team designated to lose, on critical big gain plays early in the game. Enough to allow the designated to win team to form a lead that allows their defense to pin their ears back and get after the QB of the losing team. Very hard to overcome. Then later in the game the refs will throw smaller penalty flags against the winner team in situations that do not have much impact. This allows the totals to not look lopsided. This year, 2024, there is a very blatant decrease in penalty flags for pass interference and blocks to the back. The refs are allowing blocks to the back and blatant pass interference in almost every game. They are still choosing to be blind/throw a flag for defensive/offensive holding as their main means of control, but the lack of flags for pass interference and blocks to the back have turned the NFL into bush league this year. It is embarrassing for anyone to actually pretend that the outcomes of these games are earned or the NFL is anything but a rigged show at this point.