NFL referee assignments: Meet the crews working 2026 divisional playoff games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Per Cameron Filipe of Football Zebras, Cheffers is in his 26th season as an official and 18th as a referee. Hussey is in his 24th season and 11th as a referee, while Hochuli and Smith are both in their eighth seasons as referees, with Hochuli having one more year of overall experience at 12 seasons.

In the Sean Payton era, Cheffers has been the referee for four games, in which the Broncos have gone 3-1, with their win over the Dallas Cowboys this season being the most recent. In that game, the Broncos were called for seven penalties for 42 yards, including two defensive pass interference calls on Riley Moss.

The Denver Broncos are heading to the AFC Championship Game and the Buffalo Bills are once again set to watch the Super Bowl from home. But while the Broncos are reveling in their victory, the Bills are ready to send some nasty messages to the referees that "helped them" get there.