Craig Wrolstad will serve as the referee for Sunday’s matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals at the Santiago Bernabéu, MARCA reported.
Wrolstad and his officiating crew arrive in Madrid with a distinct reputation across the league. MARCA reported that his crew ranks as one of the most penalized units in the NFL this season, averaging 17.14 accepted penalties per game, which stands as the third-highest mark across the league.
MARCA reported that Wrolstad’s crew has flagged 17 defensive pass interference penalties this year, leading the NFL by a wide margin as no other officiating group has surpassed 13.
Referee for Bengals vs. Falcons (Madrid, 9:30 a.m.) — Craig Wrolstad https://t.co/H23ZSh6H94 #CINvsATL #WhoDey #DirtyBirds pic.twitter.com/pi8hXWjYDu
That tendency could heavily influence the game plan for Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow and the Atlanta offense as both teams attempt to stretch the field. MARCA reported that the crew has whistled just one defensive holding penalty all season, placing the emphasis strictly on downfield coverage rather than physical play near the line of scrimmage.
MARCA reported that his crew has handed out five penalties for roughing the passer, putting them just one shy of the league high.
#Bengals 34 @ #Falcons 17 Total: 18 accepted penalties, 131 yards, 19 flags#Cincinnati: 6 pen, 43 yards, 6 flags#Atlanta: 12 pen, 88 yards, 13 flags Referee: Craig Wrolstad View Game Stats: https://t.co/MdnFmL6X6i#NFL #CINvsATL #RuleTheJungle #DirtyBirds
MARCA reported that the crew has assessed 26 offensive holding penalties, representing the fifth-highest total in the league.
The Bengals bring a 6-5 overall record in games assigned to Wrolstad. MARCA reported that Cincinnati’s last encounter with this specific officiating crew ended in a victory against the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving last year.
Wrolstad earned his referee designation in 2014. MARCA reported that he handled a 2025 wild-card game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans, though his postseason assignments have varied after he missed the playoffs in five of his first seven seasons as a crew chief.
No referee works alone on Sundays. MARCA reported that every NFL game is managed by a crew of seven officials who work together all season under the lead referee, who is easily identified by his white cap while the other six officials wear black caps.
The umpire operates near the line of scrimmage to monitor blocking and holding between linemen, while the down judge and line judge patrol the sidelines. MARCA reported that three deep officials—the side judge, field judge, and back judge—cover deep passes, disputed receptions, and potential interference fouls downfield.
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