The Pittsburgh Steelers will visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night in a pivotal AFC North matchup. Both teams enter the game with 6-2 records, and the winner will hold outright first place in the division through Week 10.
Air travel disruptions prompted a change to the game’s officiating crew. The NFL adjusted assignments for several Week 10 games, moving officials to matchups within driving distance of their hometowns. Clete Blakeman’s crew was originally scheduled to officiate Bengals-Steelers, but Don Willard will now serve as the referee.
The league said three backup officials will take on referee duties: Duane Heydt for Carolina-New Orleans, Barry Anderson for Jacksonville-Tennessee, and Willard for Miami-Indianapolis and Pittsburgh-Cincinnati. The NFL’s 17 officiating crews each have a designated backup referee who trains throughout the year to fill the role when needed.
This is reportedly Willard’s first time serving as the lead referee for a Bengals-Steelers game. The teams met earlier this season on September 27, when Pittsburgh won 30-27. Clay Martin was the referee for that game.
