The NFL’s regular referees returned to the gridiron tonight to a thundering applause from the crowd — and even got a personal welcome-back hug from the scariest man in football … Ray Lewis.

GameTimeGirl

As you know by now … the NFL reached a deal yesterday with the real refs — ending the Reign of Error … courtesy of the infamous replacement refs.

As the entered the field for tonight’s Ravens-Browns match up, the refs each tipped their caps in a show of appreciation for fans’ support.

TMZ