Why fans will like referee assignment for Patriots vs. Eagles Week 11 matchup

Share

NFL players and fans have complained at various points in the 2019 season about the abundance of penalties called, but based on the referee crew assigned to officiate Sunday's Week 11 matchup between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, we shouldn't expect to see many flags flying at Lincoln Financial Field.

Referee Bill Vinovich and his crew have been assigned to work this much-anticipated game, and as ESPN's Mike Reiss notes, this group has called the fewest penalties per game in the league this season.

The Patriots have committed the sixth-fewest penalties on offense and the fifth-fewest penalties on defense through 10 weeks. 

The defending Super Bowl champions rarely beat themselves, but that wasn't the case in their most recent game -- a 37-20 loss on the road to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9. New England committed seven penalties in this defeat, and a few of these mistakes proved costly.

A game with fewer penalties should benefit the Patriots for a few reasons, one being they have more talent than the Eagles on both sides of the ball. If Vinovich's crew lets the players play, New England should take care of business. Oddsmakers are confident in that outcome, too, as they've pegged the Patriots as 3.5-point road favorites.

The Patriots also have an 8-3 record in games Vinovich has officiated since he became a referee in 2004, including a Super Bowl XLIX victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

Tom E. Curran's latest AFC Power Rankings>>>

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.

Contact Us