It's not a conspiracy.
It was a bone-headed call.
We've been hearing about the tuck rule call since '01 - for most people it was the first time they had seen it. Oakland is still bitter.
But that had been called many times during the year, previous to that play, and the call in the snow game still causes anger.
The call yesterday was RIDICULOUS, and yes, it probably cost the Pats the game. You really don't like their chances getting the ball at the 46 and needing only a field goal? And I never buy into "don't deserve to win" bull. You score more points than the other guys and you deserve to win.
It is RIDICULOUS to enforce a rule for the first time in a critical spot in an overtime game...that alone makes me wonder: no, not a conspiracy to favor the Jets, but a way to make a huge point to the rest of the league, maybe?
Calling that penalty at that time is a shot across the bow of 32 NFL teams, and every serious fan now knows the rule. Calling it in the first quarter of a game on an easy field goal, where it woud have been enforced on the ensuing kick-off offers no visibility.
By the way, wonder how Donkey fans feel about the roughing the passer Vickerson got last night for bumping into Andrew Luck. That was a joke.