If you think NFL referees have been throwing a lot of flags through the first four weeks of the season, that’s because they have.
\n\nAccording to an ESPN report, the NFL has accepted 963 penalties through the first four weeks of the season. That number is higher than any total through the first month of the season since data tracking began in 1978.
\n\nThis weekend’s 271 accepted penalties became the second-highest number in that category in 48 years.
\n\n“Twelve different teams had at least 10 accepted penalties in their Week 4 games, with the Chargers and Seahawks combining for 30 of them in Seattle’s 30-23 win,” Pro Football Talk reports.
\n\nThe offenses have been particularly penalized, as Warren Sharp reports:
\n\nOffenses are getting flagged at the highest per-snap rate of any Week 1 through 4 stretch since 2000: 6.18 per 100 snaps. We’ve seen the #1 most penalties called on third or fourth down in the second half of games that I have on record since at least 2000.
\n\nAnd it’s the most EPA (expected points added) removed from offenses on these plays that I have on record. It’s the most offensive penalties in the red zone that I have…
Original source: https://www.breitbart.com/sports/
