Brad Rogers Breaks Four-Year Referee Drought with Bengals-Bills Matchup
The NFL is set to witness the end of a notable referee drought this Sunday, as Brad Rogers steps into the spotlight to officiate the highly anticipated game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills. This marks a significant return for Rogers, who has not officiated a Bills game in over four years.
A Long-Awaited Return
Rogers has been a familiar face in officiating Bengals games, having called two last season, including a Week 16 victory against the Cleveland Browns. However, his last encounter with the Bills dates back to November 21, 2021, when he oversaw a challenging 41-15 defeat against the Indianapolis Colts. It has been even longer since he officiated a game at Highmark Stadium, with his last appearance there on October 6, 2019, during his inaugural season as a head referee.
To emphasize the rarity of this matchup, the longest any active referee has gone without officiating a Bengals game is just over two years. That distinction belongs to Shawn Smith, whose last game with Cincinnati was in Week 4 of the current season against the Tennessee Titans. Following him is Alex Kemp, who last oversaw a Bengals game in Week 2 of the previous year. Under Smith’s guidance, the Bengals hold a record of 3-2, while they have struggled under Rogers, with a record of 1-2.
Penalty Statistics and Performance
Rogers and his officiating crew are known for their balanced approach to penalties, currently averaging 13.09 calls per game, which places them eighth in the league. Last season, they ranked fifth with an average of 13.81 penalties per game. While Rogers has only received one playoff assignment — a Wild Card game between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs in 2023 — his experience in officiating several Bengals games provides a solid background for this upcoming contest.
Recent Bengals Games Officiated by Rogers
Here’s a closer look at the Bengals games that Rogers has officiated in recent years:
Week 16, 2024: Bengals 24, Browns 6
– Bengals: 5 penalties for 35 yards
– Browns: 5 penalties for 41 yards
Week 9, 2024: Bengals 41, Raiders 24
– Bengals: 6 penalties for 70 yards
– Raiders: 6 penalties for 51 yards
Week 12, 2023: Steelers 16, Bengals 10
– Bengals: 5 penalties for 36 yards
– Steelers: 5 penalties for 55 yards
Week 16, 2020: Bengals 37, Texans 31
– Bengals: 5 penalties for 35 yards
– Texans: 6 penalties for 46 yards
Week 1, 2019: Seahawks 21, Bengals 20
– Bengals: 7 penalties for 57 yards
– Seahawks: 8 penalties for 55 yards
As the Bengals prepare for this important matchup against the Bills, the return of Brad Rogers as referee adds an intriguing layer to the game narrative. His officiating history with both teams will be closely monitored by fans and analysts alike as the action unfolds on the field.
