Info from Warren Sharp's breakdowns....in no particular order. Well actually in the order I will read his breakdowns, so Chiefs / Bills are up first....
KC @ Buffalo - Shawn Hochuli
- Shawn Hochuli’s crew called the fewest defensive pass interference penalties and were tied for the fewest illegal contact penalties in 2023. These numbers contributed to Hochuli calling a below-average 21% of overall penalties on defensive backs this season. Only Brad Rogers and Carl Cheffers called a lower overall percentage on this position group in 2023
- The Bills defense has surrendered approximately 22% more automatic first downs via penalty this season than the Chiefs, but both are above-average penalized units on third down plays
- Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed is a top-three penalized defensive back in the NFL. The positive here is two-fold. The Chiefs use penalties by design on occasion. Intentionally holding an offensive player is often more beneficial than allowing that player to run free for a significant yardage gain. Secondly, in the three games Kansas City played that were officiated by the three crews mentioned above that call the lowest percentage of penalties on defensive backs, Sneed was not penalized once
- Defensive holding and illegal use of hands are the two penalty categories that make up a higher percentage of defensive penalties with Hochuli officiating. These infractions are not excessively called but outnumber the aforementioned pass interference and illegal contact penalties
- The Chiefs offense is an elite unit at generating defensive holding calls. They ranked No. 1 in 2022 and are co-ranked No. 1 overall in 2023. Of the two offenses taking the field on Sunday, it’s this one area that stands out from a penalty perspective in favor of the Chiefs
- Overall, the Chiefs offense is the superior unit in this game at generating automatic first down via penalty, with the primary driver being the aforementioned defensive holding calls
- The lower percentage of penalties assessed on defensive backs from Hochuli’s crew results in an above-average 11.5% percentage of penalties being called on linebackers. This is an area that potentially provides an advantage to the Chiefs
- The Buffalo linebackers account for a slightly above-average 10% of the team’s overall penalties. Conversely, the Chiefs linebackers are responsible for just 3% of the team’s penalties. That is the lowest percentage of any team in the AFC
- The Chiefs have been penalized just once for roughing the passer all season, in Week 6 versus the Broncos. Shawn Hochuli was the referee that night
- The Bills defense has committed four roughing the passer penalties in 2023. Conversely, the Bills offense, or more specifically Josh Allen, has been the number one beneficiary of roughing the passer penalties in the 2023 NFL season
- Shawn Hochuli led the NFL in calling roughing the passer penalties this season. This is one category that may be a factor on Sunday. The league wants the quarterbacks protected and to avoid negative publicity from highly publicized no calls, as we saw in the Lions versus Rams game after multiple hits on Mathew Stafford were not called
- Conversely, Shawn Hochuli called the fewest unnecessary roughness penalties this season <