Take this for what it's worth..According to http://refchat.blogspot.com/ Bill Vinovich's crew handed out just over the league average for accepted penalties per game at 12.2. The average yardage per penalty was 8.5 yards... However The most interesting stat is that heading into the final week of the season, Vinovich's crew was head and shoulders above the rest of the NFL crews with a home team winning percentage of 73% followed by Mike Carey's crew at 69%. The final season stats showed that Vinovich's crew tied Carey's crew with a home team winning percentage of 67%. The next highest % was 60% with the majority of %'s being in the high 40's and mid 50's. Bad news for the Seahawks...Walt Anderson's crew is doing the game in Seattle and his crew is nearly the exact opposite of Vinovich's. Home teams won only 33% of the games his crew worked. Bill Vinovich
That's random. If it were true over a period of years then it's something to worry about, but if it's just this year then it's an anomaly. The NFL was positively freaky with dogs this year at home and on the road.
[/I] Perhaps...but this was what this stat geek who puts the data together had to say... "I don't think anyone really believes that the referees are biased for or against home teams generally. But if you want to believe there is some unconscious bias, then watch Bill Vinovich's games and root for the home team." 67% seems high for a season full of so many road dogs...
I'd be interested to learn their propensity to call pass interference...The Patriots were burned so many times this year (and last year in Denver) with teams just heaving it up when all else fails on 3rd and long and getting bailed out by some ticky tac PI call...
Like I said: if it's a multi-year pattern then I'd be concerned about it. I don't see that evidence yet so I just don't know. I also highly doubt that the NFL would cherry-pick a refereeing assignment to specifically knock off the Jets. Ask yourself whether the NFL would really rather have the Pats roll over New Orleans in the Super Bowl or the Jets lose to the Saints. Not that I would speculate either way at this point because there are so many games in between, but the NFL does not want a 4 or 5 time Pat's champion as their figureheads early in the 21st century, especially not on the back of New Orleans.
Not sure.. by the way...your sig is great!...Great movie..."So in addition to a number of girls in the greater Niagra falls area, you and Claire are currently riding the hobby horse."
Good point, but I think a weekend of Pats/Chargers and Colts/Ravens would be pretty appealing for CBS.... As I wrote ealier this week, as long as Jeff Tripplette and his crew are far away from Foxboro then I'll be content.
As long as it's not the crew that worked the Cleveland game or the the Indy/Pitt game last year I'm fine
Mike Carey's crew (Tied Vinovich's crew for highest home winning %) worked the Jets/Cleveland game... Pete Morelli blew the Pitt/Indy game last year. Vinovich and his crew worked the Pats/Bengals game this year (Patriots blowout) and he worked the Jets/Vikings game... (Jets blowout). All the penalties in the world wouldn't have helped either team that day.
Best point of all. I dont care about the home teams winning percentage with a certain crew. You dont know the teams involved in the game. They have just happened to have gotten a lot of bad road team, we are not one of them.
How about Brady and Bellichick undefeated in playoffs at home...How's that stat grab ya? The weather was the equalizer last game, neutralizing both teams and turning it into a coin flip.... I think the Patriots will cover this line with ease tomorrow...
I think you're sorely mistaken. The Jets have nothing to lose. And as far as them covering...do you know the spread? 8 1/2. Thats a lot of points for two teams that split in the regular season. I'd say at the very least the Jets will cover that easily if not coming out on top.
Well the ref card started their run, so I'm sure the knowledgeable Pats fans will be looking at the refs on Sunday and wondering if the tables have turned.
The ref card? Not necessary... I hope Jets players aren't taking their fans' attitudes.. I sure hope they feel like they have something to lose. The Patriots have hundreds of superbowl rings locked up throughout greater Foxboro. Been there...done this...
