
fifg / Shutterstock.com
The Buffalo Bills are getting ready to start their journey to the Super Bowl in New Orleans. They’re going to play against the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium this Sunday. It’s a big game because it’s part of the playoffs, which is like a tournament to see who gets to go to the Super Bowl.
This year marks the third time in a row that the Bills have entered the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 2 seed. Hosting a Wild Card game for the fifth straight season, Buffalo has been victorious in their playoff openers for the past four years and is expected to continue this streak against Denver.
The Broncos had a tough season with money issues and a rookie quarterback but still made it to the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 7 seed. Sean Payton, their coach, managed to lead them there despite these challenges. The Bills’ quarterback, Josh Allen, is playing really well, but winning isn’t guaranteed.
On any given Sunday, unexpected things can happen in football. Sometimes, penalties, which people call “neon yellow laundry,” can change everything.
Bill Vinovich will be leading the crew of referees for this game. He’s familiar to the Bills, having officiated several of their games before.
Vinovich’s crew is known for not calling many penalties. During the regular season, they threw the fewest flags, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert and NFL penalty stats.
However, Vinovich will not be working with his usual team during the playoffs. The NFL mixes up crews based on performance during the season, which might mean more flags could be thrown.
Vinovich has been part of some memorable games for the Bills. He was there when they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2021 AFC Championship and during a crucial game against Denver in 2023.
Once, he even threatened to penalize the Bills if fans kept throwing snowballs onto the field during a game against Miami. But it turned out he couldn’t actually enforce that penalty.
Announcement at Bills game: "Please stop throwing snowballs. We've just been informed that if a snowball hits someone, it'll be a 15 yard penalty against Buffalo" pic.twitter.com/Br2CWkLyvA
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 18, 2022
Sean Payton knows Vinovich’s style all too well. Back in 2018, Vinovich’s crew missed a major call during an important game between Payton’s Saints and the Rams.
In terms of penalties this season, the Broncos ranked 19th overall with 108 penalties but gave up a lot of yards because of them. The Bills were slightly better at 12th with 112 penalties and fewer yards lost.
So, as both teams prepare for this crucial matchup, they’ll need to watch out for penalties and hope for fair calls from Vinovich’s mixed crew.