NFL officiating crews often play a large part in determining which teams win or lose each week. As on-the-field arbiters of the league’s rulebook, officials have the power to destroy an offense’s momentum, or hurt a defense’s chance of preventing a team from advancing within range of a game-winning field-goal attempt. All with the toss of a yellow flag.
There are 17 NFL officiating crews, and they are assigned to games each week, depending on how many games are played. With no more bye weeks, Week 15 will feature 16 games; Alex Kemp’s crew has the week off. In the Broncos-Lions game Saturday night, John Hussey will be officiating his 350th NFL game.
Below are Week 15 assignments for the NFL officiating crews, along with a detailed look at which teams might be helped or hurt by who will be calling penalties at their game this week.
THURSDAY
Los Angeles Chargers (5-8) at Las Vegas Raiders (5-8), 8:15 p.m. ET
Head official: Ron Torbert
Torbert’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 13
- Penalties: 13.5 called/game (1st out of 17)
- Home team win %: 76.9 (21.6 above norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 50.9 (7th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: False start (3.9 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Offensive line (5.0 calls/game)
| CHARGERS | RAIDERS | |
| Penalties called/game | 4.8 (t-30th) | 4.6 (32nd) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 4.4-5.3 | 4.0-5.3 |
| Most penalized position | Defensive back (21) | Defensive back (13) |
| Most common penalty | False start (10) | False start (12) |
Who benefits the most?
Las Vegas Raiders. While Torbert’s crew throws more flags than any crew in the league, the home team ends up winning most of the time, and the Raiders are the least penalized team in the league. Torbert’s crew is the league leader in false start calls.
SATURDAY
Minnesota Vikings (7-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-6), 1 p.m. ET
Head official: Bill Vinovich
Vinovich’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 12
- Penalties: 11.9 called/game (out of 17)
- Home team win %: 41.7 (13.62 below norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 53.1 (3rd out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: False start (2.4 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Offensive line (3.4 calls/game)
| VIKINGS | BENGALS | |
| Penalties called/game | 4.8 (31st) | 5.1 (29th) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 5.0-4.7 | 5.3-4.8 |
| Most penalized position | Offensive line (16) | Defensive back (16) |
| Most common penalty | Offensive holding (15) | False start (11) |
Who benefits the most?
Cincinnati Bengals. Vinovich’s crew appears to favor the home team in terms of the flags thrown, and the Vikings’ offensive line in particular will be susceptible on the road.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) at Indianapolis Colts (7-6), 4:30 p.m. ET
Head official: Adrian Hill
Hill’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 12
- Penalties: 12.33 called/game (tied 8th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 58.33 (3.04 above norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 42.6 (17th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: False start (2.58 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Offensive line (3.33 calls/game)
| STEELERS | COLTS | |
| Penalties called/game | 5.4 (25th) | 6.2 (16th) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 5.4-5.4 | 6.5-6.0 |
| Most penalized position | Defensive back (28) | Offensive line (25) |
| Most common penalty | False start, off. hold, def. hold (7) | False start (18) |
Who benefits the most?
Indianapolis Colts. In terms of penalties, Hill’s crew is the most home-friendly in the league, even if the home win percentage doesn’t quite show it.
Denver Broncos (7-6) at Detroit Lions (9-4), 8:15 p.m. ET
Head official: John Hussey
Hussey’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 12
- Penalties: 13.92 called/game (1st out of 17)
- Home team win %: 75.0 (19.71 above norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 44.9 (15th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: False start (3.83 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Defensive back (2.58 calls/game)
| BRONCOS | LIONS | |
| Penalties called/game | 6.3 (15th) | 5.8 (19th-t) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 7.0-5.5 | 6.0-5.7 |
| Most penalized position | Defensive back (23) | Defensive back (25) |
| Most common penalty | False start (16) | Offensive holding (17) |
Who benefits the most?
Detroit Lions. Hussey’s crew tosses the most flags of all the NFL officiating crews and skews toward the home team more than most. The Lions, however, have been dinged 10 times for defensive pass interference, so that bears watching.
SUNDAY
Atlanta Falcons (6-7) at Carolina Panthers (1-12), 1 p.m. ET
Head official: Land Clark
Clark’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 12
- Penalties: 13.0 called/game (3rd out of 17)
- Home team win %: 25.0 (30.29 below norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 45.3 (13th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: Offensive holding (2.92 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Defensive back (4.33 calls/game)
| FALCONS | PANTHERS | |
| Penalties called/game | 5.2 (t-27th) | 6.5 (t-8th) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 5.4-4.8 | 6.6-6.5 |
| Most penalized position | Defensive back (23) | Offensive line (27) |
| Most common penalty | False start (16) | False start (23) |
Who benefits the most?
Atlanta Falcons. Clark’s crew throws the third-most flags overall among NFL officiating crews, ranks third in offensive holding calls, and is slightly friendlier toward road teams.
Chicago Bears (5-8) at Cleveland Browns (8-5), 1 p.m. ET
Head official: Brad Allen
Allen’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 11
- Penalties: 10.83 called/game (16th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 45.45 (9.84 below norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 46.2 (12th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: Offensive holding (2.3 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Defensive back (3.2 calls/game)
| BEARS | BROWNS | |
| Penalties called/game | 6.5 (8th) | 6.6 (7th) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 7.0-6.0 | 6.4-6.8 |
| Most penalized position | Offensive line (32) | Offensive line (27) |
| Most common penalty | False start (20) | Offensive holding (16) |
Who benefits the most?
Cleveland Browns. This is nearly a push, but Allen’s crew is kinder to home teams than most of the NFL officiating crews, and the Bears’ offensive line is among the most penalized position groups in the league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) at Green Bay Packers (6-7), 1 p.m. ET
Head official: Tra Blake
Blake’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 12
- Penalties: 12.75 called/game (5th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 50.0 (5.29 below norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 51.0 (6th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: False start (2.7 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Offensive line (4.0 calls/game)
| BUCCANEERS | PACKERS | |
| Penalties called/game | 6.3 (13th) | 6.9 (t-3rd) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 6.2-6.4 | 8.0-6.0 |
| Most penalized position | Offensive line (25) | Defensive back (26) |
| Most common penalty | Offensive holding (18) | False start (18) |
Who benefits the most?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. None of the NFL officiating crews throws more defensive pass interference calls than Blake’s does, making the Packers more vulnerable, since their DBs are the team’s most penalized group.
Houston Texans (7-6) at Tennessee Titans (5-8), 1 p.m. ET
Head official: Clete Blakeman
Blakeman’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 12
- Penalties: 11.3 called/game (12th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 75.0 (19.7 above norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 47.4 (11th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: False start (2.0 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Defensive back (3.2 calls/game)
| TEXANS | TITANS | |
| Penalties called/game | 6.5 (t-8th) | 6.7 (6th) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 5.9-7.2 | 7.0-6.5 |
| Most penalized position | Offensive line (24) | Defensive back (26) |
| Most common penalty | Defensive PI, Off. holding (13) | False start (25) |
Who benefits the most?
Tennessee Titans. The Texans lead the league in flags for defensive pass interference calls, and Blakeman’s crew ranks third in that category among the NFL officiating crews.
New York Jets (5-8) at Miami Dolphins (9-4), 1 p.m. ET
Head official: Brad Rogers
Rogers’ crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 13
- Penalties: 12.6 called/game (6th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 76.9 (21.6 above norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 48.8 (9th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: Offensive holding (3.2 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Offensive line (3.5 calls/game)
| JETS | DOLPHINS | |
| Penalties called/game | 6.9 (t-3rd) | 5.7 (23rd) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 6.8-7.2 | 5.0-6.3 |
| Most penalized position | Offensive line (24) | Offensive line (25) |
| Most common penalty | False start (24) | Offensive holding (20) |
Who benefits the most?
Miami Dolphins. Just looking at the home-road splits shows this to be a favorable matchup for the Dolphins, even though Rogers’ crew ranks first among the NFL officiating crews in terms of offensive holding calls.
Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) at New England Patriots (3-10), 1 p.m. ET
Head official: Shawn Hochuli
Hochuli’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 12
- Penalties: 12.3 called/game (9th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 66.7 (11.38 above norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 44.6 (15th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: Offensive holding (2.6 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Offensive line (3.5 calls/game)
| CHIEFS | PATRIOTS | |
| Penalties called/game | 6.4 (12th) | 5.8 (t-24th) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 5.5-7.1 | 5.3-6.1 |
| Most penalized position | Offensive line (34) | Defensive back (17) |
| Most common penalty | Offensive holding (22) | False start (14) |
Who benefits the most?
New England Patriots. The Patriots might get some officiating help due to Hochuli’s crew being more home-friendly and the Chiefs ranking No. 1 in offensive holding calls.
New York Giants (5-8) at New Orleans Saints (6-7), 1 p.m. ET
Head official: Carl Cheffers
Cheffers’ crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 12
- Penalties: 11.6 called/game (11th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 50.0 (5.3 below norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 49.6 (8th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: False start (2.3 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Offensive line (2.8 calls/game)
| GIANTS | SAINTS | |
| Penalties called/game | 5.5 (24th) | 6.1 (18th) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 5.2-5.7 | 4.5-7.4 |
| Most penalized position | Offensive line (24) | Defensive back (23) |
| Most common penalty | False start, off. holding (16) | Offensive holding (20) |
Who benefits the most?
New Orleans Saints. Cheffers’ crew, which made the offsides call against the Chiefs’ Kadarius Toney last Sunday, might be the most neutral among the 17 NFL officiating crews. But its tendency to ding offensive lines favors the Saints, who tend to get flagged much less at home anyway.
Washington Commanders (4-9) at Los Angeles Rams (6-7), 4:05 p.m. ET
Head official: Alan Eck
Eck’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 13
- Penalties: 11.0 called/game (15th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 76.9 (21.6 above norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 48.5 (10th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: False start (1.8 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Offensive line (2.8 calls/game)
| COMMANDERS | RAMS | |
| Penalties called/game | 5.2 (t-26th) | 5.8 (t-17th) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 3.7-6.4 | 6.3-5.4 |
| Most penalized position | Offensive line (20) | Defensive back (22) |
| Most common penalty | False start (13) | Offensive holding (16) |
Who benefits the most?
Los Angeles Rams. Almost a push. Along with skewing toward the home team, Eck’s crew throws the second-least number of flags for defensive pass interference and is among the most defensive-friendly overall of the 17 NFL officiating crews.
San Francisco 49ers (10-3) at Arizona Cardinals (3-10), 4:05 p.m. ET
Head official: Scott Novak
Novak’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 13
- Penalties: 11.0 called/game (14th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 61.5 (6.2 above norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 51.0 (5th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: False start (2.4 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Offensive line (3.2 calls/game)
| 49ERS | CARDINALS | |
| Penalties called/game | 6.3 (t-13th) | 6.5 (t-8th) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 5.5-7.0 | 6.7-6.4 |
| Most penalized position | Defensive back (26) | Offensive line (30) |
| Most common penalty | False start (15) | Offensive holding (20) |
Who benefits the most?
San Francisco 49ers. The Cardinals draw the third-most offensive holding calls, and that’s what Novak’s crew calls more often than most.
Dallas Cowboys (10-3) at Buffalo Bills (7-6), 4:25 p.m. ET
Head official: Craig Wrolstad
Wrolstad’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 12
- Penalties: 11.1 called/game (13th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 61.5 (6.2 above norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 54.1 (2nd out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: Offensive holding (2.1 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Defensive back (2.9 calls/game)
| COWBOYS | BILLS | |
| Penalties called/game | 7.5 (1st) | 6.8 (5th) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 6.7-8.3 | 6.2-7.3 |
| Most penalized position | Defensive back (28) | Offensive line (23) |
| Most common penalty | Offensive holding (21) | Offensive holding (18) |
Who benefits the most?
Buffalo Bills. The Cowboys are the most penalized team in the league, so they will rarely gain an advantage from the officiating. It could be a long day for Dallas’ defensive backs.
Baltimore Ravens (10-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5), 8:20 p.m. ET
Head official: Shawn Smith
Smith’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 12
- Penalties: 12.4 called/game (7th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 16.7 (38.6 below norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 53.0 (4th out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: Offensive holding & false start (1.8 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Offensive line (3.3 calls/game)
| RAVENS | JAGUARS | |
| Penalties called/game | 6.2 (t-16th) | 5.2 (t-26th) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 6.3-6.0 | 4.8-5.6 |
| Most penalized position | Offensive line (27) | Offensive line (23) |
| Most common penalty | False start & off. holding (15) | False start (22) |
Who benefits the most?
Baltimore Ravens. Of all the NFL officiating crews, Smith’s crew heavily skews toward the road team, and the Jaguars rank fourth in false start calls.
MONDAY
Philadelphia Eagles (10-3) at Seattle Seahawks (6-7), 8:15 p.m. ET
Head official: Clay Martin
Martin’s crew: 2023 stats
- Games officiated: 12
- Penalties: 10.6 called/game (17th out of 17)
- Home team win %: 41.7 (13.7 below norm)
- % of penalties called on home team: 55.1 (1st out of 17)
- Most common penalty called: Offensive holding (2.8 calls/game)
- Most penalized position group: Offensive line (3.1 calls/game)
| EAGLES | SEAHAWKS | |
| Penalties called/game | 5.8 (t-19th) | 7.4 (2nd) |
| Home-road penalty split/game | 6.5-5.1 | 6.7-8.0 |
| Most penalized position | Defensive back (20) | Offensive line (23) |
| Most common penalty | False start (17) | False start (17) |
Who benefits the most?
Philadelphia Eagles. The Seahawks rank second in terms of penalties called, and Martin’s crew likes to throw flags at offensive linemen, especially for offensive holding.