also it doesn't have to be a "conspiracy" that requires any kind of a shadowy plot. It's just that the refs, as league employees, know what's the better outcome for the league. It doesn't mean they can choose a winner, but they sure can guide a game in a certain direction.
its just gotten to the point where, against the Pats, any big play made by the opposition (and especially smaller market teams) I'm actually surprised if there isn't a flag that wipes out the play - it's just happened so often over the past decade