Based on officiating trends, the Ravens won¡¯t have to worry about roughing-the-passer penalties when they play the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady in the playoffs.
The officiating crew that will oversee Sunday¡¯s game -- which is headed by Gene Steratore -- has called three roughing-the-passer penalties in 15 games this season. Only three other officiating crews called fewer in the 2009 regular season.
Three months ago, it was Ron Winter¡¯s crew that flagged the Ravens twice for roughing-the-passer. His group led the NFL with nine roughing-the-passer penalties this season.
"Asked if about the public perception that the Ravens have to battle the Patriots as well as the officials, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, ¡°We don¡¯t believe in that. We¡¯ve got a tough, hard-nosed, hard-playing bunch of guys. We play good, clean football. It¡¯s an intense game, but we expect to play a good, smart game.¡±
Steratore¡¯s group has also called 10 pass interference penalties, which is the sixth-fewest among the 17 full-time officiating crews in the NFL.
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