The NFL has assigned Alex Kemp and his crew to officiate for the upcoming matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Cleveland Browns.
Kemp is one of the most penalty-happy referees in the NFL, behind only Ron Torbert, Clete Blakeman and Adrian Hill. Over nine games so far this season, Kemp has thrown 162 total flags, 25 of which were dismissed. That’s an average of 15.22 penalty flags thrown per game, for an average of 126.89 yards.
Among those, 60 of them were on the home team, with 77 of those coming against the away team.
The last time the Browns played a game under Kemp and company was on Dec. 28, 2023, when Cleveland recorded a 30-27 victory over the visiting New York Jets. In that game, Kemp’s crew threw 12 flags on the Jets for 74 yards.
Four flags were thrown on the Browns for 26 yards.
The Saints last saw Kemp when they shut out the New England Patriots on the road with a 34-0 victory in Gillette Stadium on Oct. 8, 2023.
12 penalties were thrown on the Saints for 86 yards, with five penalties thrown on the Patriots for 30 yards.
Overall, the Saints have had decent success under Kemp with a 4-2 record when he is the referee. The Browns haven’t exactly been lucky or unlucky with a 2-2 record under Kemp in the same position.
It will be interesting to see how things shake out this time around with New Orleans and Cleveland set to kick off at Noon CT/1 p.m. ET on Sunday from the Caesars Superdome.
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