NFL assigns crews for Week 3, including Thursday night in Green Bay
Shawn Smith will officiate the Falcons-Packers game at Lambeau Field on Thursday night. John Hussey's crew is set for the Ravens-Cowboys matchup in Rio de Janeiro, while Craig Wrolstad has the week off. The full slate of assignments for Sunday and Monday games was also released.
The Week 3 assignments place Shawn Smith at Lambeau Field for the Thursday night Falcons-Packers contest, a prime-time slot on Prime. John Hussey’s crew travels to Rio de Janeiro for the Ravens-Cowboys international game, while Craig Wrolstad is idle this week. The full slate covers 15 games across Sunday and Monday, with officials like Clete Blakeman, Carl Cheffers, and Shawn Hochuli handling marquee matchups. All times are Eastern, and the article notes that regular crew personnel may be substituted weekly, as listed in the 2026 officiating crews reference.
These assignments could subtly influence game outcomes, as each referee’s tendencies—such as flag frequency or replay decisions—may affect close calls in high-stakes matchups. Fans, bettors, and teams alike might scrutinize crew assignments for perceived biases, though officials are trained for neutrality. The international game in Rio also highlights the NFL’s global expansion, where officiating consistency becomes a showcase for new audiences. Ultimately, the impact is procedural, but transparency in these assignments helps maintain trust in the league’s fairness.