Zebra Watch #8

Chiefs fans will get to see Mr. Muscles on Sunday. The crew handling the Chiefs-Buccaneers game at Arrowhead Stadium is led by Ed Hochuli.

Over the last several years, Hochuli has become a bit a lightning rod among the striped shirts for criticism from within and without the league. At one time, he was the head of the NFL officials association. He also never seems to shy away from TV time, as his crew has always been one of the league’s most active groups. Then there are those guns; Hochuli spends plenty of time in the weight room and loves showing off those biceps.

He took a big hit earlier this season when his call on what was a fumble, but ruled an incompletion may have kept the San Diego Chargers from beating the Denver Broncos. Hochuli apologized on the field to San Diego coach Norv Turner and then began answering e-mail from fans on the subject until the league office told him to stop.

It’s been an interesting season for Hochuli’s crew. They began the year as one of the most active, averaging 15.4 penalties for 127 yards over their first five games. But in the last two games, they’ve averaged just six flags for 53 yards.

Why the big drop? That’s the stuff that makes people wonder about the consistency of the officiating in the league from week to week.

Hochuli and his crew are coming off a weekend where they stayed at home.

Couple notes from last weekend’s games: Scott Green’s crew did not walk off a single penalty against New England in the Patriots victory over St. Louis. In fact, they threw only one flag against New England all afternoon, an offensive holding call that was declined … Al Riveron’s crew did not throw a flag against Cleveland in the Browns game against Jacksonville until 49 minutes, 33 seconds had been played … Jeff Triplette’s crew has led the league in flags each week of the season, but last weekend in the Baltimore-Oakland game, there was a 41:31 span where the Raiders did not have a penalty walked off against them. That’s the Raiders mind you.

WEEK #8

Home/Away numbers in red for winning team

2008 OVERALL