Clete Blakemanwill serve as the referee when the Baltimore Ravens host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
Baltimore enters its home opener looking to clean up the offensive penalties that repeatedly interrupted an otherwise dominant performance against Indianapolis. The Ravens committed 10 penalties for 86 yards during their 41-23 victory, including several offensive infractions that erased productive plays. New Orleans was penalized six times for 53 yards in its overtime loss to Detroit.
Here is what Ravens fans should know about Blakeman’s assignment and his crew’s historical tendencies.
Clete Blakeman’s experience
Blakeman became an NFL official in 2008 and was promoted to referee in 2010. His postseason résumé includes serving as the referee for Super
Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.
Penalty rate
Blakeman’s crews averaged 13.2 accepted penalties per game from 2019 through 2025, according to RotoWire’s seven-season officiating analysis.
That figure was slightly above the league-wide average of approximately 12.3 penalties over the same study. RotoWire did not consider Blakeman’s rate statistically significant, meaning it should not be treated as evidence that his crews will automatically produce a flag-heavy game.
Still, that number is relevant for a Baltimore team coming off 10 penalties.
Five of the Ravens’ six accepted first-half penalties against Indianapolis were charged to the offense. Mark Andrews committed a false start, Ronnie Stanley was called for a chop block and a false start, Jovaughn Gwyn’s holding penalty erased Ja’Kobi Lane’s touchdown, and Vega Ioane was penalized twice for holding. Baltimore cannot fall behind schedule or give up additional scoring opportunities against New Orleans.
Home-team trend
Home teams went 59-52 against the spread in Blakeman’s 111 games from 2019 through 2025, a 53% success rate.
That places him among the five highest home-team percentages in RotoWire’s study. However, the analysis classified the number as statistically insignificant.
Baltimore is favored by 8½ points.
Favorites under Blakeman
Favorites covered exactly 50% of the time across Blakeman’s 111-game sample.
That is essentially neutral and offers no meaningful historical edge for either Baltimore or New Orleans. The Ravens’ status as a substantial favorite will be determined far more by their advantages at quarterback, running back, and along both lines.
Scoring trend
Games officiated by Blakeman finished an average of 0.6 points above the closing total from 2019 through 2025.
That difference is minimal and was not statistically significant. It also should not be interpreted as evidence that Sunday’s game will become a shootout.
Baltimore scored 41 points and produced 506 yards in Week 1. New Orleans scored 30 and generated 469 yards during an overtime loss. Offensive personnel and defensive matchups offer a stronger reason to expect scoring than the referee assignment.
Offensive holding is worth monitoring
The Ravens must correct their interior holding problems after Gwyn and Ioane combined for three accepted holding penalties against Indianapolis. That becomes particularly important if Stanley or John Simpson cannot play. Both starting offensive linemen are questionable, which could force Carson Vinson or Andrew Vorhees into the lineup. New Orleans can attack the edges with Chase Young, Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan. The Saints also have enough size inside to test Gwyn and Baltimore’s young guards.
Disrupted protection can lead to holding, especially when Jackson extends a play beyond its original timing.
Pre-snap penalties remain a Baltimore concern
Baltimore’s offensive line committed multiple pre-snap or procedural mistakes in the opener. The Ravens overcame those errors because Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers produced explosive plays. Flowers is doubtful, leaving Baltimore with less room for wasted snaps.
The crowd should help the Ravens’ defense in its home opener, but Baltimore’s offense must remain disciplined in an emotional environment. False starts at home would negate one of the benefits of playing at M&T Bank Stadium.
Defensive backs must adjust to the crew
Chris Olave is questionable with a hamstring injury, but his route running will challenge Baltimore’s secondary if he plays. Olave caught 10 passes for 182 yards in Week 1.
Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and the Ravens’ safeties must determine early how much contact Blakeman’s crew permits beyond the line of scrimmage. Defensive holding and illegal-contact calls could help New Orleans sustain drives even when Baltimore’s rush disrupts Shough.
The same applies to Saints cornerbacks facing Rashod Bateman and Baltimore’s replacement receivers.
Final assessment
Blakeman brings extensive experience and a crew that has called slightly more penalties than the league average, but its historical home-team, favorite, and scoring results do not offer a reliable predictive advantage.
The more important issue is Baltimore’s own discipline.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens-Saints referee report: What to know about Clete Blakeman
