Referee announced for Packers’ Week 1 matchup vs. Vikings

DENVER, CO - The NFL has unveiled its Week 1 referee assignments, with Green Bay Packers set to begin their season against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. Shawn Hochuli, the referee responsible for the Packers, will lead the team on Sunday. Hochuli's crew has a reputation for being stringent, as they have ranked among the top four in the NFL in flags thrown per game for two consecutive seasons.

Last year, they worked 17 regular-season games and only issued fewer than double-digit flags once. The Packers finished 14th in the NFL in penalties, while the Vikings were in 16th place. Hochuli's crew didn't call certain penalties at the same rate as other crews but did flag for neutral zone infractions, illegal blocks, intentional grounding, and defensive holding more often than the league average. For next Sunday's game, it's likely that double digits of flags will be called.