What makes for a well-officiated Super Bowl? In the minds of many, it's a game with minimal flags. On paper, at least, we have a chance for that outcome in Sunday's Super Bowl LIII.
The Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots tied for the NFL's seventh-fewest penalties during the regular season (113). Referee John Parry's regular-season crew ranked right in the middle of the league with an average of 15.8 flags per game, and his first postseason crew threw 10 during the Rams' 30-22 divisional-round victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Generally speaking, penalty totals in recent Super Bowls have fallen below season averages.