Referee from Colts vs. Texans discusses calls from touchdown drive

The Houston Texans took a 20-13 lead over the Indianapolis Colts early in the fourth quarter.

That touchdown proved to be enough to win this game.

However, that eventual 12-play, 65-yard scoring drive may not have happened without a crucial third-down penalty called on Kenny Moore.

With the Texans facing a 3rd-and-6 from the Colts' 42-yard line, CJ Stroud threw a pass to receiver Jayden Higgins that fell incomplete. Except Moore was penalized for pass interference, which resulted in a first down, keeping the drive alive.

Here is what referee Clay Martin had to say after the game about the penalty:

"The calling official had an arm grab at the top of the route. When you lock back, the ball was in the air, and when you see the ball in the air, that makes it pass interference."

Before this play even happened, it also looked like Houston could have been penalized for a delay of game.

Martin was asked about that as well.

"The back judge is the calling official, and there is a process on that. When the clock hits zero, he looks down ot the ball, and if the ball is snapped as he looks down from the clock to the ball, we leave that alone. That's what he ruled on the play."

After that penalty on Moore, the Texans would score a touchdown several plays later.

On the extra point attempt, it looked like Ka'imi Fairbairn's field goal missed, but it was called good.

"The calling official had the ball above the upright and completely inside the outside edge of the upright and so he ruled a successful try," said Martin. "Since the ball was above the upright it's not reviewable."

Had Faribairn's extra point attempt missed, the Colts potentially could have kicked the game-tying field goal late, rather than going for it on fourth down.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts vs. Texans: What referee had to say about calls on Houston drive