Land Clark Will Be Steelers-Browns Referee: Joey Porter Jr. Should Be On Guard

Land Clark and crew will referee Sunday afternoon’s sport between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. For the offensive linemen, watch out for holding. For CB Joey Porter Jr., don’t do…something you probably did final week.

Clark and his crew most frequently name false begins (30), offensive holding (22), and defensive cross interference (15). Whereas he doesn’t have the league’s highest quantity of DPIs, he’s proper close to the highest of the group. That’s vital for Porter, who’s coming off an unsightly six-flag efficiency Sunday in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals. 4 occasions he was flagged for cross interference whereas additionally being tagged for unlawful fingers to the face and defensive holding. His six penalties had been essentially the most by an NFL cornerback since Week 3 of the 2022 season, although solely 4 of them had been accepted.

Porter’s flags have are available bunches this 12 months. Of the 14 thrown on him, 12 have come throughout simply three video games. He had three in Week 2 in opposition to the Denver Broncos and one other trio in Week 10 in opposition to the Washington Commanders earlier than his six-flag displaying versus the Bengals.

Talking with reporters Tuesday, Tomlin downplayed Porter’s penalties and famous the group’s dedication to enjoying physical in opposition to large large receivers.

Clark’s residence/away splits are attention-grabbing. On the season, the house group is successful simply 41.7 % of the time. That’s beneath the league common of 51.3 %. Final 12 months, residence groups gained simply 25 % below Clark in comparison with the common of 56.1 %. And in 2022, residence groups gained simply 31.3 % of the time below Clark’s crew. That too was effectively beneath the league common of 56.3 %.

Largely, that’s correlation and never causation however an attention-grabbing tidbit given the Steelers are the house group this weekend.

Clark beforehand labored one Steelers sport this season in Week 4 in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts. That day, the home-team Colts gained, 27-24, constructing an early 17-0 lead and holding off a Steelers fourth-quarter comeback ended by a botched snap on the group’s remaining drive. Penalties had been pretty even and never terribly consequential that day. Pittsburgh was penalized six occasions for 53 yards whereas Indianapolis was flagged 4 occasions for 38 yards. Porter was referred to as for DPI as soon as in that sport.

Pittsburgh has misplaced its final two regular-season video games below Clark, additionally falling to the Arizona Cardinals within the one Steelers sport he officiated final season. Porter was additionally flagged as soon as that day for cross interference.

Employed by the NFL in 2018, Clark was promoted to go referee in 2020.

The Steelers and Browns kick off Sunday at 1 PM/EST.