Referee Land Clark’s crew, second-fewest flags this season, will oversee Giants-Raiders. Punters may favor the under and fewer penalty-heavy player props—expect cleaner play with limited drive-stopping flags, which could tilt live props and totals toward lower scoring and more special-teams/field-goal outcomes.
Land Clark, Veteran Referee, Draws Week 17 Giants–Raiders Assignment
Sixth-year referee Land Clark and his officiating crew have been assigned to Sunday’s Week 17 matchup between the New York Giants and the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
From Field Judge to Referee: Clark’s NFL Path
Clark joined the NFL in 2018 as a field judge and was promoted to referee in 2020, replacing Walt Anderson after the 2019 season. This marks the second time Clark’s crew will work a Giants game this season; they previously officiated New York’s Week 3 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, a contest that produced 17 flags (15 accepted) for 167 yards.
Penalty Profile: Low Flag Frequency
Clark’s crew has thrown the second-fewest penalty flags in the league this season, with 186 total. Of those, 148 were accepted for 1,117 yards while 38 were dismissed — both totals also ranking second-lowest leaguewide. That trend toward fewer accepted penalties suggests cleaner, more continuous play when this crew is on the field.
Crew Composition and Recent Additions
Clark’s crew includes umpire Mark Pellis, down judge Tom Stephan, line judge Jeff Hutcheon, field judge Jabir Walker, side judge Dominique Pender, back judge Brad Freeman, replay official Gerald Frye, and replay assistant Kris Raper. Pellis, Frye, and Raper are recent additions, arriving from other NFL crews and the ACC.
Game and Team Stakes
The Giants and Raiders enter Week 17 both at 2–13. New York carries a nine-game losing streak that began in Week 7 and can effectively lock in the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft if the skid continues. The Giants seek their first road victory of 2025 and their first road win since beating Seattle on October 6.
Betting Angles and Practical Impacts
Clark’s low-flag profile often correlates with fewer stoppages and less penalty yardage, which can suppress scoring volatility. For bettors this suggests: - Totals: lean toward the under in tightly matched games where a low-penalty crew is expected to limit free-yardage scoring chances. - Player props: penalties-dependent props (sacks nullified by infractions, receivers penalized for offensive pass interference) may hit less often. - Live betting: fewer drive-extending penalties could reduce sudden swings in line movement.
Logistics
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. at Allegiant Stadium.
Why Raiders Must Keep It Simple in the 2026 NFL Draft
The Giants have drawn the league's second-lowest penalizing officiating crew for their game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
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