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"Thursday Night Football" could be a showcase for NFL's rising penalty trend

Ahead of the upcoming Thursday night matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers, referee Scott Novak has been selected to officiate the contest. Novak currently leads all referees in total yellow flags thrown this season, matching up with a Green Bay squad that leads the league in penalties.

The pairing arrives while the Packers deal with lingering frustrations over recent officiating crews, following complaints from players like Xavier McKinney and Micah Parsons regarding strict enforcement and game management. Across the broader league, officiating data indicates that penalties have reached record levels in 2026, driven largely by increases in offensive holding infractions and delay of game penalties.

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