The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up to face the Cleveland Browns in Week 14 of the 2024 NFL season. A key factor in this matchup will be the officiating crew, led by referee Land Clark.
According to NFLpenalties.com, Clark and his officiating team frequently call false starts (30), offensive holding (22), and defensive pass interference (15). Although Clark’s crew doesn’t lead the league in DPIs, they rank among the highest, which is particularly relevant for Joey Porter Jr. Clark’s crew called Porter just once for DPI in Pittsburgh’s Week 4 loss at Indianapolis.
Known for his physical play, Porter has struggled with penalties, drawing six flags (four accepted) in a recent game against the Cincinnati Bengals. These six penalties marked the most by an NFL cornerback since Week 3 of the 2022 season, though only four were enforced.
Mike Tomlin has expressed patience with Porter’s aggressive style, emphasizing the need to match opponents’ physicality like the Browns’ receivers. However, given the officiating tendencies, Porter must balance his assertiveness with clean technique to prevent penalties that could shift momentum.
Porter must be especially disciplined to avoid costly penalties that could benefit the Browns. Porter’s ability to adapt to the referees’ calling style will minimize penalties and limit the Browns’ offensive opportunities. A disciplined performance from Porter could be a deciding factor in the game’s outcome.
