After 7 games now, I finally realized what is sapping the fun out of football for me. It's the referees. Not a single game goes by now without a huge, consequential issue happening with the officiating. I'm sick of it. It looks--like so much looks these days--like things are rigged sometimes.
Your instincts may be correct on the fixed games.
Check out some of the books on sports betting and their impact on sports.
It is a dark world that the leagues do not want you to know about...
https://www.amazon.com/Fix-Showbiz-Manipulations-NFL-NASCAR/dp/1932595813
https://www.amazon.com/Larceny-Games-Sports-Gambling-Fixing/dp/1936239779
You're on to something here.
In the name of protecting quarterbacks, new rules requiring a) extremely subjective interpretations which require 300 pound men to change direction and the target in a split second, sometimes in mid'air...Concussion prevention has brought on..b) a running back cannot lower his helmet, but sometimes he can....c) in the name of safety, kickoffs are now the boringest plays in football.....d) punts are a flagfest because players have learned how to "flop forward" to draw the ubiquitous block in the back penalty. I feel sorry for the refs, too much subjectivity.
Some penalties cannot be determined one way or the other, even with instant replay.
Oh, and some of the players can really grate, I blame this on public schools PC-self-esteem bull-crap.