Bengals Prepare for Steelers with Referee Clay Martin at the Helm
The Cincinnati Bengals are set to face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, and they will do so under the watchful eye of Clay Martin, one of the NFL’s most consistent referees. Known for maintaining a balanced approach to penalty calls, Martin’s officiating style offers a stark contrast to the extremes the Bengals have encountered over the past two weeks.
Referee Profile
Clay Martin enters his eighth season as a head referee and his eleventh overall in the league. His crew ranks 10th in total flags thrown per game, averaging 16, while sitting eighth in accepted penalties, with 14 per game. This consistency has characterized Martin’s tenure, allowing teams to anticipate a more moderate officiating style.
Over the years, Martin has consistently found himself in the middle of the pack concerning accepted penalties:
2024: Eighth place (12.65)
2023: Tenth place (10.76)
2022: Seventh place (11.65)
2021: Ninth place (11.53)
2020: Eighth place (11.14)
2019: Thirteenth place (12.27)
Bengals’ History with Martin
In his limited experience as a head referee for Bengals games, Martin has overseen four matchups, resulting in a 2-2 record for Cincinnati. Notably, one of those victories came in the Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens during the 2022 season. His recent officiating assignment for the Bengals was a win against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5 of the current season.
Here’s a breakdown of Martin’s officiating history with the Bengals:
Week 5, 2023: Bengals 34, Cardinals 20
Bengals: 4 penalties for 40 yards
Cardinals: 2 penalties for 16 yards
Wild Card Playoff, 2022: Bengals 24, Ravens 17
Bengals: 7 penalties for 42 yards
Ravens: 4 penalties for 36 yards
Week 1, 2020: Chargers 16, Bengals 13
Bengals: 7 penalties for 44 yards
Chargers: 6 penalties for 35 yards
Week 6, 2019: Ravens 23, Bengals 17
Bengals: 4 penalties for 20 yards
Ravens: 10 penalties for 81 yards
Steelers’ Record with Martin
The Steelers also share a 2-2 record under Martin’s officiating. As both teams gear up for this pivotal matchup, the presence of a referee known for his balanced calls could play a significant role in shaping the game’s flow.
The anticipation surrounding this game extends beyond the players on the field. With Martin’s history of moderate penalty calls, fans and teams alike are hopeful for a fair contest that emphasizes skill and strategy over flags.
