Bucs are second-most penalized team in the NFL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) points down the line the during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)

Credit: Mike Luck

Credit: Mike Luck

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) points down the line the during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)

FLOWERY BRANCH --  The Falcons have referees, including former running back Fred McCrary, at practice and they should have them cracked down on the frequent violators.

Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay, which is set for 1 p.m. at the Georgia Dome, could turn into a penalty-fest.

Tampa Bay has been penalized 76 times for 553 yards. The Falcons have been penalized 52 times for 428 yards.

The 76 penalties are the second-most in the league behind Buffalo’s 88 penalties.

The Falcons are tied for being the 20th most penalized team in the NFL with Detroit and St. Louis.

The Bucs were penalized 16 times for 142 yards in the loss to Washington.

The Falcons also have 169 nullified yards, which are yards nullified by penalties on the offense or the punt or kickoff return team. The Falcons had season-high 78 nullified yards against Tennessee.

Here’s the ranking of the most penalized teams in the league, according to NFL's Game Statistic and Information System.

TEAM, PENALTIES AND YARDS

Buffalo, 88 for 670

Tampa Bay, 76 for 553

Indianapolis, 71 for 459

Cleveland, 66 for 492

Philadelphia, 66 for 394

Oakland, 65 for 447

San Diego, 65 for 425

New Orleans, 64 for 500

Baltimore, 64 for 447

Houston, 60 for 421

Miami, 60 for 416

Washington, 59 for 394

Green Bay, 59 for 380

New York Giants, 58 for 403

Kansas City, 57 for 379

Seattle, 56 for 419

Chicago, 55 for 447

Jacksonville, 53 for 466

Dallas, 53 for 334

Denver 52 for 448

Falcons, 52 for 428

Detroit, 52 for 393

St. Louis, 52 for 338

Cincinnati 51 for 346

Tennessee, 50 for 364

Arizona, 50 for 353

New England, 48 for 387

San Francisco, 46 for 264

New York Jets, 42 for 370

Pittsburgh, 42 for 357

Carolina, 42 for 315

Minnesota, 41 for 305