New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com

Let them play: There were only 31 penalties called during last week's four wild-card games. The league average is 14 a game. Officials let teams play in the first round of the playoffs and that might be the case again this week. Pete Morelli is doing the New England-Indianapolis game and he throws the fewest flags per game at 10.3. Terry McAulay (12.7) works the Seattle-New Orleans game; Clete Blakeman, who will officiate the Denver-San Diego contest, is seventh on the scale at 13.13; and Carl Cheffers (S.F.-Carolina) ranks 11th with 13.7 a game. In other words, the four referees are below the league average for penalties, which indicates the eight teams will be allowed to play. There are a few things to watch. The Seahawks' secondary will have to watch its technique on pass coverage as McAulay called 18 interference penalties, tied for third most among the referees. Still, that's not a lot at slightly more than one interference call per game. Offensive linemen in the 49ers-Panthers game might be on alert as well, as Cheffers' crew called 55 holding penalties -- most in the league.

Seems like we may get some calls for us or maybe not who knows.