The referee crew for the Ravens’ Divisional Round clash against the Buffalo Bills has been announced, and Ravens fans might breathe a little easier. Carl Cheffers and his crew, who called the fewest penalties of any officiating team in 2024, will oversee the game.
According to NFLPenalties.com, Cheffers’ crew officiated 16 games during the 2024 season and threw just 180 flags, the lowest total in the league. For comparison, Alex Kemp’s crew, which handled the Ravens’ Wild Card game against the Steelers, called significantly more penalties—especially holding infractions.
Cheffers’ officiating style leans toward letting the players play, which could bode well for a high-stakes playoff matchup like this.
The Ravens are familiar with Cheffers’ crew—they officiated Baltimore’s Week 12 win against the Chargers. That game was a bit of an anomaly for the Ravens, as they racked up nine penalties for 102 yards. Here’s a breakdown of the Ravens’ flagged plays from that matchup:
The Ravens’ defensive backs, in particular, struggled with discipline, committing multiple defensive pass interference (DPI) penalties.
Here are the top five infractions called by Cheffers’ team this season:
It’s worth noting that Cheffers’ crew called 23 fewer offensive holding penalties than Alex Kemp’s team, but nearly double the number of DPIs. This could spell trouble for the Ravens’ secondary, which has been flagged for DPI frequently this season.
One reassuring trend for Ravens fans is the consistency in Cheffers’ crew’s home and away penalty statistics. Across their top five infractions, the difference between home and away calls is minimal. For example:
The data suggests no significant bias based on location, which should keep the playing field level regardless of home-field advantage.
When asked if the Ravens would adjust their game plan based on the officiating crew, John Harbaugh was quick to dismiss the idea.
“We don’t,” Harbaugh said. “People do push the envelope sometimes—I think that’s a strategy some might use—but I’ve tried in the past to understand officiating tendencies, and I found it to be a red herring. It’s a waste of time. In the end, you need to focus on just doing things well the right way.”
Harbaugh’s emphasis on playing clean football and avoiding penalties will be crucial as the Ravens face the Bills’ explosive offense.
For the Ravens to stay competitive, they’ll need to avoid the types of penalties that plagued them in Week 12. Key areas to watch:
Ultimately, the Ravens’ ability to keep penalties in check could make the difference between a win and an early playoff exit.
What do you think, Ravens fans? Will Cheffers’ light-touch approach benefit Baltimore? Or will the secondary need to tighten up their game to avoid costly penalties? Let us know in the comments!