Here’s your weekly referee assignment: the NFL has scheduled Brad Rogers and his crew to oversee Week 3’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers, putting one of the league’s most flag-happy officiating staffs in line for a prominent matchup in the early-afternoon slate.
New Orleans has been fouled just 10 times through the first two weeks, tied for seventh-fewest around the league; their 77 penalty yards are eighth-fewest. Conversely, the Packers are one of the most heavily-fouled teams with 16 penalty flags (tied for 28th) for 130 penalty yards (24th). Green Bay has drawn fouls for 7 pre-snap penalties, tied for second-most.
The Saints are 3-4 in games with Rogers on the field as a referee, having won their last matchup against Cleveland Browns late last season. The Packers are 3-1 in games he has officiated — but they lost their last game, the 2022 season finale with the Detroit Lions with a playoff berth on the line in Aaron Rodgers’ last start.
Rogers has officiated a game between the Saints and Packers before, too. The Saints lost their 2020 meeting at the Caesars Superdome by 37-30 while drawing 8 fouls for 83 penalty yards. Green Bay was penalized twice for 10 yards.
That’s all ancient history now, of course. Right now Rogers’ crew is tied for the second-most penalty flags thrown (37) through two weeks, though just 32 of those fouls have held up (15 on home teams, 17 on visitors). They are especially vigilant for offensive holding fouls (6) and false starts (4), so the Saints will need to be mindful at the line of scrimmage.
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