nfl referee assignments 2022 week 2

NFL Week 2 Officiating Angles: Finding Edges in Ravens-Bengals, Chiefs-Jaguars and Browns-Steelers

This brand-new column at SportsLine started 2-1 as officiating angles helped us cash Under 44 in Raiders-Broncos and the Buccaneers (+5.5) over the Vikings. We totally whiffed on the Steelers (+2.5) vs. the 49ers.

This season, Joe Gibbs (not the Hall of Fame coach, the NFL referee expert who tweets @NFLrefstats) is collaborating with SportsLine to provide weekly officiating angles. He analyzes the NFL referee assignments from the moment they are released each Tuesday.

Before you make any Week 2  NFL picks  or NFL parlays, you need to see what Gibbs and SportsLine senior analyst Larry Hartstein have to say about the officiating crews' tendencies.

A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, Hartstein combines a vast network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed working for Pro Football Focus. Larry tied for 52nd place (out of 1,598 entries) in the 2022 Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest, going 53-34-3 ATS. Those selections formed the basis of his SportsLine NFL best bets, which finished 36-26-1 last season and began the 2023 season 2-1.

We can tell you Hartstein and Gibbs are laying -3 (-122) with the Bengals over the visiting Ravens. Baltimore will be without starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley and starting center Tyler Lindenbaum, who were injured in the Week 1 win over Houston.

That doesn't bode well with Shawn Hoculi as the referee. "Hochuli called 42% of his overall penalties on the offensive line via false start and offensive holding flags in 2022, and currently sits tied for No. 1 in calling offensive holding penalties after one week of the 2023 season," Gibbs noted.

Hartstein also is sharing key officiating angles in Chiefs-Jaguars and Browns-Steelers. You need to see this key referee data before locking in your picks!

So which side of Chiefs-Jaguars has the edge ? And what other officiating edges can be found on the Week 2 slate ? ... Join SportsLine right now to see Larry Hartstein's Week 1 NFL officiating trends, all from the expert who went 53-34-3 in the SuperContest last year !

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NCAA and NFL Referee news

Thursday, Sep. 15

• Chargers at Chiefs —  John Hussey

Sunday, Sep. 18

• Dolphins at Ravens  —  Adrian Hill
• Jets at Browns  —  Tra Blake
• Colts at Jaguars  —  Alex Kemp
• Commanders at Lions  —  Bill Vinovich
• Buccaneers at Saints  —  Shawn Hochuli
• Panthers at Giants  —  Ron Torbert
• Patriots at Steelers  —  Land Clark
• Seahawks at 49ers  —  Brad Rogers
• Falcons at Rams  —  Clay Martin
• Texans at Broncos  —  Carl Cheffers
• Bengals at Cowboys  —  Brad Allen
• Cardinals at Raiders  —  Clete Blakeman
• Bears at Packers —  Craig Wrolstad

Monday, Sep. 19

• Titans at Bills —  Shawn Smith
• Vikings at Eagles  ABC — Scott Novak

NFL Referee Assignment for Super Bowl 58 & Impact on NFL Betting

We tend to only focus on NFL referees after a controversial decision or bad no-call. Yet each head NFL referee and his respective crew interprets the game differently.

Gaining insight into the way a game will be officiated can have immense value in the betting market.

A referee who calls more penalties for defensive holding and roughing the passer has a far different impact on game flow than a ref who focuses more on offensive holding and false starts.

Referee style one week may hide a team’s weakness (defensive backs), but a different official who leans heavily on calling pass interference will compound that weakness the next week.

Same team. Different outcomes.

Throughout this 2023 NFL season, we’ll help to identify important trends and tendencies by different NFL referees to help you gain an edge when placing a bet .

Sharp Football Analysis has every angle of Chiefs vs. 49ers covered in our Super Bowl 58 Hub .

NFL Referee Assignment for Super Bowl 58

Don’t miss out on our super bowl recommendations.

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Bill Vinovich’s Impact on Chiefs vs. 49ers in Super Bowl 58

The Chiefs and 49ers meet in Super Bowl 58. The game will officiated by Bill Vinovich, his third Super Bowl as a head referee.

Bill Vnovich was in charge of proceedings in the Chiefs’ 31-20 victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl 54 to conclude the 2019 NFL season. This game marks the first time the same referee has officiated a Super Bowl rematch.

Vinovich is the epitome of a “let ‘em play” referee, especially in postseason games.

We have detailed the decline in offensive holding penalties throughout these playoffs versus regular season averages. Expect that to continue in Super Bowl 58.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa brought the issue to the media’s and hopefully the officiating crew’s attention in the lead-up to the big game.

The Chiefs have been the number one beneficiary of the reduction in offensive holding in the playoffs. It would be an ideal scenario for the 49ers to see more offensive holding calls in Super Bowl 58, but that is unlikely.

The all-star officiating crew is a topic of conversation when assessing the Super Bowl. How can we preview a game if the referee in charge doesn’t have the entirety of his regular season crew on the field?

It’s a valid point, and we did an in-depth look at this last week.

If there is one surefire playoff trend, regardless of the crew makeup and the head referee, it’s the emphasis on reducing overall penalties.

Look for the Vinovich-led crew in Super Bowl 58 to follow that script.

Now, let’s assess the strengths and weaknesses of the teams in the Super Bowl from a penalty perspective and how the officiating of the Bill Vinovich-led crew will potentially impact these games

Penalty Tendencies:

• Since Bill Vinovich’s first Super Bowl as a head referee between the Patriots and Seahawks in 2015, his games are averaging 9.5 penalties for 78.4 yards. Keep these numbers in mind for any penalty props that may be available for this Super Bowl
• The Chiefs overall offense and offensive line issues were well-documented throughout the 2023 season. The penalty issues for the Kansas City offense have seen a sharp decline in their playoff run
• The Chiefs averaged 5.3 penalties per game in the 2023 regular season, with 63% committed by their offense. That averages out to around 3.5 offensive penalties per game
• The Chiefs are averaging just 2.6 penalties per game on their current playoff run, with the offense responsible for 70% of penalties. That amounts to around 1.8 offensive penalties per game, a significant drop from the regular season average. Since the drop in offensive penalties is primarily via offensive holding, it’s a huge boon to a Kansas City offense that struggled at times in 2023
• The decline in offensive holding is standard operating procedure every season in the playoffs. The NFL wants an aesthetically pleasing product in highly viewed postseason games. It just so happens Kansas City is the biggest beneficiary of this in 2023
• The 49ers offense is responsible for just 46% of the team’s overall penalties in 2023, with their offensive line responsible for just 24% of the team’s overall penalties
• The 49ers were a below-average penalized team for offensive holding in 2023
• In their Super Bowl 54 matchup in 2020, there was one offensive holding penalty called by Vinovich’s crew. More notable in that game were the non-calls, particularly in situations involving the aforementioned Nick Bosa 
• The 49ers and Chiefs defensive units are the two least impactful at generating offensive holding penalties on the opposing offenses in 2023, ranking 31st and 32nd respectively. In their five combined playoff games in the 2023-24 playoffs, these defenses have generated one accepted offensive holding penalty and have had one additional call declined
• Vinovich ranks second for false start penalties per game
• The 49ers and Chiefs share a common trait in penalties surrendered via passing plays. Defensive pass interference makes up the bulk of penalties surrendered in this category, with 61% of the Chiefs’ infractions and 58% of the 49ers’
• The back judge in Super Bowl 58 is from the Land Clark crew. One of the more controversial no-calls in 2023 came in Chiefs at Vikings in Week 5. It was a late-game defensive pass interference by L’Jarius Sneed on Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison . The flag was thrown by the side judge but picked up after a discussion with the back judge and head referee Land Clark.
• The 49ers and Chiefs offenses are top five beneficiaries of defensive holding infractions
• The Vinovich-led crew has members from the Clark, Shawn Hochuli, and Tra Blake crews. All three were above average calling defensive holding.
• Vinovich is co-ranked number one for illegal use of hands penalties and second overall for illegal block in the back penalties in 2023. These are two categories the Chiefs are highly penalized in versus league average. These infractions are more likely to get called in Super Bowl 58 with the Vinovich and Hochuli crews heavily represented in this game
• No referee has called fewer roughing the passer penalties than Vinovich since the start of the 2018 NFL season, averaging one approximately every seventh game officiated. This is far fewer than other referees over that same stretch. Across the board, the average is one roughing the passer penalty approximately every 2.5 games officiated. Keep these roughing the passer numbers in mind for penalty-specific prop bets in Super Bowl 58
• In playoff games, Vinovich-led crews have called just one roughing the passer penalty in 14 contests officiated since the 2012 season. The inclusion of two Hochuli crew members is the only cause for concern about roughing the passer, as they led the NFL in this category. However, at the end of the day, Vinovich runs this outfit and his numbers override everything else.
• Conversely, Vinovich-led crews in those 14 playoff games have called 13 unnecessary roughness penalties
• Pre-snap penalties are to be avoided at all costs. The Chiefs were one of the best in the NFL this season, ranking 30th overall. It’s worth noting, four of the five teams with the fewest pre-snap penalties in 2023 made the playoffs

Bottom Line:

• Vinovich-led crews are 60-39-2 (60%) to the under since the start of the 2018 NFL season, including 10-7 (60%) to the under in 2023
• In playoff games dating back to 2012, Vinovich is 9-8 to the under. The Chiefs’ 31-20 victory in Super Bowl 54 stayed under the closing total of 52.5 points. We are dealing with a far lower number in this contest
• A little-mentioned factor in the lead-up to this game is the new grass field surface at Allegiant Stadium. Last year’s surface in Arizona was a debacle, and it favored the offenses. From an in-game wagering perspective, the focus on offensive holding, or the probable lack thereof, is issue No. 1. The second piece to the puzzle is field conditions. Those two factors alone will impact the total as much as anything else

If the 49ers bring their “A” game, they can win Super Bowl 58. At their best, San Francisco looked near unbeatable in the 2023 season.

However, it’s been a while since we’ve seen that form, and frankly, they were fortunate to win their first two playoff games.

We thought the Ravens would be a tough out in the AFC Championship, but the moment proved to be too big for them.

The positive for the 49ers is that they have a loaded roster with high-IQ players who shouldn’t make the same discipline-related errors that contributed to the Ravens’ downfall. The team needs to play its best game from the get-go in Super Bowl 58.

Conversely, the Chiefs’ fast starts have had them largely control games during their playoff run. Its coaching staff and its core group of players provide them with an edge in this matchup. This is especially true at the quarterback position.

The bottom line is they won’t beat themselves, making the Kansas City Chiefs the play in this game and the winner of Super Bowl 58.

Bet 49ers vs. Chiefs Now!

Super Bowl 58 Referee Crew & Penalty Trend

Heading into the 2023 NFL playoffs, the three referees most likely to officiate the Super Bowl were Bill Vinovich, John Hussey, and Shawn Hochuli. It’s no surprise five of the seven Super Bowl officials are members are from these crews.

Two members apiece are from the Bill Vinovich and Shawn Hochuli crews.

The remaining three officials are from the John Hussey, Tra Blake, and Land Clark officiating crews.

These five crews represent 30% of all officiating crews in the NFL, which is a key number when detailing the following penalty categories.

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nfl referee assignments week 17 2022

Homelessness down in Long Beach, up in Orange County, latest counts find

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For the first time in seven years, the city of Long Beach saw local homelessness decline year over year — but officials in next-door Orange County were disappointed to learn their unhoused population had continued to grow .

The divergent trends were documented in point-in-time counts conducted in January. Those surveys are meant to provide on-the-ground snapshots of homeless populations to help identify the needs of particular communities and shape local response efforts.

Long Beach officials said there were 3,376 people experiencing homelessness tallied during the latest count — down 2.1% from the 3,447 in 2023.

It was the first drop in homelessness seen since 2017, when the city’s homeless population stood at 1,863, records show.

Long Beach plans to purchase property near L.A. River for a homeless shelter

The city leased the site to extend its winter shelter program, but community members asked leaders to purchase it for use as housing for homeless people.

June 13, 2023

Mayor Rex Richardson said he was encouraged by the results of the annual count, which is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for cities that have their own continuum of care, a governing body that coordinates funding for housing and homeless services. Long Beach, Glendale and Los Angeles each have their own continuum of care.

“It’s clear that the work the city has done in addressing homelessness is beginning to turn the tide,” Richardson said during a news conference this week. “These numbers let us know we’re on the right track and must continue on in the work.”

The homeless count found that more than 70% of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach are unsheltered, meaning they live in a tent, makeshift shelters or a vehicle.

A little more than half of the people surveyed reported being on the streets for the first time. Most listed family issues, mental health and eviction as contributing factors.

As L.A. County sees an increase in homeless families, agencies are struggling to help

In the last year, there has been a 45% increase in the number of families in L.A. County’s homeless system.

May 10, 2024

The city saw about a 50% reduction in homelessness for those between the ages of 18 and 24, a 37% decrease for minors and a 9.4% decline for those ages 54 through 64. Increases were seen in other age groups, however.

Declines were also recorded among women and Black and Latino residents — among the groups at highest risk of falling into homelessness.

City officials said an emergency declaration on homelessness issued last year helped boost outreach services, shelter bed capacity and mental health counseling. It also helped streamline the approval process for affordable housing projects — from a year to 60 days, officials said.

Although that emergency proclamation expired in February, city officials said it provided a model for how the city should tackle homelessness in the long run.

Housing & Homelessness

Homeless Initiative awarded $51.5 million to assist 105 Freeway and river encampments

California awards L.A. County homelessness initiative $51.5 million to help house people living in encampments along the 105 Freeway corridor.

May 9, 2024

As a result, Deputy City Manager Teresa Chandler announced the formation of an Office of Homeless Strategy, which will serve as a “connecting point” for various departments, external agencies, service providers and community stakeholders who are focused on addressing homelessness.

Richardson said he hopes the city can maintain its momentum.

“We have to maintain focus,” he said. “Now is not the time to switch strategies, now is the time to double down on the results we’ve seen and continue to make meaningful difference.”

Meanwhile, just east of the port city, Orange County officials recorded a 28% increase in homelessness in the region.

The point-in-time results, conducted biannually by the county, showed that there were 7,322 people experiencing homelessness in January, up from 5,718 in January 2022.

Unsheltered, Part 2: Once reluctant, these Orange County cities are opening homeless shelters

As homelessness has exploded, Orange County officials have wrestled with how best to tackle it. Local governments are under pressure to do more.

Dec. 31, 2019

Increases were noted both in the number of unsheltered homeless individuals, 37%, as well as those in shelters, 18%.

Doug Brecht, director of the county’s Office of Care Coordination, attributed the increase in part to the end of COVID-era initiatives that provided financial support to families and housing-related protections such as eviction moratoriums.

County officials took some solace in the fact that chronic homelessness decreased in the region for the first time since 2019 and that the growth rate of its homeless population over the last five years has remained below those of the state and surrounding counties — a development Brecht said was aided by more investment into the county’s homeless services system.

County officials said they plan to further increase shelter bed capacity, expand outreach services and build more affordable housing.

In a statement, Donald Wagner, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, expressed mixed reaction about the results.

“While there has been an increase in the homeless population in Orange County, it is only a relatively minor 7% increase over the last five years,” he said. “Still, we recognize much work left to do.”

Startling increase found in deaths of Orange County homeless people. Drugs are the main cause

From 2012 to 2021, the number of deaths of homeless people in Orange County more than tripled, and accidental overdoses are a leading reason why.

March 1, 2023

Supervisor Doug Chaffee expressed disappointment, but said the homeless count also provides vital information about how the county can do better.

“The point-in-time is not just counting heads, it’s an assessment of how well we’re doing,” he said. “It’s easy to say, ‘We need more housing.’ We do, but there’s other components.”

Chaffee said one area that the county will need to further examine is how to prevent people from falling into homelessness in the first place — while also trying to boost housing production in the region.

“It’s a cork in the bottle,” he said. “That’s how we’ll address the increase.”

More to Read

Deadly overdoses stopped surging among L.A. County homeless people. Narcan could be why

Opinion: Why is California behind Texas and other states in curbing homelessness?

April 5, 2024

Nithya Raman, Kevin De León got more homeless people off the street. Will that sway voters?

March 1, 2024

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Ruben Vives is a general assignment reporter for the Los Angeles Times. A native of Guatemala, he got his start in journalism by writing for The Times’ Homicide Report in 2007. He helped uncover the financial corruption in the city of Bell that led to criminal charges against eight city officials. The 2010 investigative series won the Pulitzer Prize for public service and other prestigious awards.

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