Penalty-Prone Panthers and Packers Set for Flag-Heavy Thursday Night Clash

When the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers kick off Week 8 on Thursday night, the stage is set for an unusually whistle-heavy affair.

The matchup pits the NFL’s most penalized team—the Packers, averaging 9.3 penalties per game—against the fourth-most penalized team, the Panthers, at 8.7 per game. Carolina also leads the league in penalty yardage per game at 79.2 yards, with Green Bay close behind at 78.0.

Adding to the equation, referee Scott Novak’s crew is the most flag-happy in the league, calling an average of 22.7 penalties per game and accepting 20.1.

With those factors combined, Thursday’s contest could feature frequent stoppages and extended playing time.

It remains to be seen whether both teams will continue their tendency to draw flags, or if Novak’s officiating crew will maintain its high penalty rate. Either way, fans should expect a potentially lengthy broadcast.

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