The Buffalo Bills are set to face off against the New England Patriots in a high-stakes matchup on October 5, 2025, at 8:20 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium. This intense rivalry in the AFC East, especially under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football, underscores the importance of precise officiating. Referee Shawn Hochuli will lead his crew for this critical encounter, bringing with him a wealth of experience and expertise.
Hochuli, as the head referee, oversees a seven-official team responsible for ensuring the game runs smoothly. His duties include enforcing the rules, announcing penalties, managing the game clock, and communicating key decisions to coaches and players. The coordination with the replay booth is also a crucial aspect of his role, especially as NFL replay operations aim for consistency and accuracy across all games.
In the final two minutes of each half, along with overtime, all turnovers and scoring plays are automatically reviewed, with potential reviews initiated from the booth. Coaches can further challenge some decisions by using their red challenge flags, allowing them up to two challenges, and potentially a third if their first two are successful.
The officiating crew for the Bills vs. Patriots game includes Umpire Larry Smith, Down Judge Patrick Holt, Line Judge Tim Podraza, Field Judge Jason Ledet, Side Judge Jim Quirk, and Back Judge Jimmy Russell. Each official has specific responsibilities: Smith focuses on player safety and legal line play, while Holt and Podraza monitor the scrimmage line for formation legality and potential penalties like offsides. Ledet and Quirk check for pass interference and catch legality along the sidelines, and Russell manages gameplay in the end zone and monitors timing.
The on-field crew’s cohesion is reflected in their previous appearances together this season, which showcases their ability to maintain consistent mechanics and enforcement standards. As they prepare for this primetime matchup, the emphasis will be on maintaining presnap discipline to prevent critical drive-changing flags and ensuring clarity on possession and boundary rulings. With Hochuli’s leadership and the crew’s established communication and review protocols, fans can anticipate an effectively officiated game between these two fierce rivals.