Archer refers to Len Koenecke (d.1935), a former Brooklyn Dodger and New York Giants professional baseball player who died after getting hit by the pilot and a passenger of the plane he drunkenly tried to commandeer, much as Archer had tried to grab control of the plane Ray was piloting.
When Archer jumps through a window, he pays homage to Hal Needham, who was a stunt double for Burt Reynolds.
Blake Perlman plays the Latina character of La Madrina. Her father Ron Perlman previously played the Latino character Ramon Limon.
The title is a reference to Smuggler's Blues (1985), which is a reference to a Glenn Frey song, who was a guest star in that Miami Vice (1984) episode.
When the paramilitary commander hits his subordinate with a red beret while berating him for letting Archer, Ray, and Cyril escape, the subordinate responds with, "¿Qué tiene adentro, hebillas?". This continues the "What's inside, buckles?" running gag from previous episodes.