Detroit Lions fans know all too well how significant a referee assignment can be in determining the outcome of a game. The Lions have been on the wrong end of countless questionable calls over the past few decades, and the NFL has literally had to establish new rules based on referee decisions that have gone against Detroit.
This Sunday, the Lions will host the Los Angeles Rams in their first playoff game in 30 years and the NFL has assigned Craig Wrolstad to the game. The NFL uses mixed officiating crews for the playoffs—taking the best, most consistent officials from the pool of options—but with Wrolstad in charge, there’s optimism for an efficiently called game.