NFL Referee Assignments Week 1: Big Time Rivalries Highlight the NFL’s First Week

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Most bettors spend time researching everything they can about the teams and players, but few spend time looking at the officiating crews. While NFL crews are fantastic, each has its own personality that makes it unique. Understanding that, before placing a wager, can give your winning percentage a boost and lead to a profitable football betting season.

Below, we will share three Week 1 games that we believe will be impacted by the assigned officiating crew.

NFL Referee Assignments Week 1

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Referee on Lions vs. Packers - Odds Impact

Game Odds

• Spread: Lions +2.5 (-110) | Packers -2.5 (-110)

• Moneyline: Lions +118 | Packers -140

• Total: Over 47 (-110) | Under 47 (-110)

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.

Nobody is more upset about Week 1’s ref assignments than the Detroit Lions. The team has a long and ugly history with Clete Blakeman, who will be on the field for this crucial NFC North rivalry game. 

The Lions are 2-7 when Clete Blakeman is on the field, and fans don’t believe it's a coincidence. The longtime official has made some famously bad calls against the Lions, including in an infamous hands-to-the-face call in a 2019 game against Green Bay. 

With a rowdy crowd expected to show up at Lambeau Sunday afternoon, Blakeman and his crew will be facing a tough test. Many refs refuse to let the fear of a crowd reaction, but human instinct doesn’t always make it easy. 

Missed calls, especially like the one in 2019, could have an even bigger impact in this Week 1 matchup. That is because the newly acquired Micah Parsons is expected to be on the field for the Packers. The generational pass rusher is big and fast, making him incredibly challenging to stop. If the Lions' efforts to stop him result in bad penalty calls, it could lead to struggles for the Lions' offense and force the defense to be overworked. 

In 2024, Clete Blakeman led the league by calling 263 penalties for 2,197 yards.

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Referee on Steelers vs. Jets- Odds Impact

• Spread: Steelers -2.5 (-120) | Jets +2.5 (-110)

• Moneyline: Steelers -155 | Jets +130

• Total: Over 38.5 (-110) | Under 38.5 (-110)

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.

We are betting on this matchup based on Bill Vinovich calling the game. The veteran official worked 17 games last season, but called the fewest holding penalties of any other crew. His “let them play” mentality means that these two impressive defensive fronts may struggle to create pressure in the backfield as offensive linemen test the limits of Vinovich’s disdain for offensive holding calls.

Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields are unlikely to intimidate many defenses at this point in their careers. Rodgers has lost a lot of speed and throw power, while Fields has spent 99% of his career under suffocating pressure. However, if they can find better protection tonight, both are capable of putting up eye-popping numbers against their former teams.

Vinovich didn’t work any Jets games last season, but did officiate the Steelers’ Christmas Eve game. Pittsburgh accounted for five of the seven penalties called, but none involved holding. The Steelers went on to lose that game 34-17, but we can’t blame Vinovich for that.

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Referee on Ravens vs. Bills - Odds Impact

• Spread: Ravens -1 (-120) | Bills +1 (-110)

• Moneyline: Ravens -115 | Bills -105

• Total: Over 50.5 (-110) | Under 50.5 (-110)

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.

John Hussey is the perfect official for this potential AFC Championship preview. The official was elevated to referee in 2016 and called the second-most penalties of any crew (233). However, he has ranked in the bottom five of the league in penalties in all but one season (2023) since his debut. Last season, Hussey’s crew called the fewest penalties in the league (184).

The Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills are two of the most talented teams in the NFL. Watching Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson square off over the years has been incredibly entertaining. With Hussey’s crew calling the game, we believe it will allow these powerhouses to showcase themselves, leading to another thrilling matchup.

These two teams last met in the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs, with the Bills winning 27-25. A total of six penalties were called, with five going against the Ravens. Hussey and his crew did not work the game.

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