Controversial calls in Colts' loss further damages confidence in NFL officiating

Controversial calls in Colts' loss further damages confidence in NFL officiating originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

If there was one thing the NFL did not need on Sunday, it was another officiating controversy. That, however, is exactly what the NFL got in Sunday's matchup between the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts.

With the score tied at 13-13 early in the fourth quarter, Houston faced a third-and-15. The first controversy came as soon as the ball was snapped, as, while the play clock had clearly expired, a delay of game penalty was not called. That briefly looked like it would be inconsequential, as C.J. Stroud's pass to Xavier Hutchinson was incomplete. Controversy No. 2 came when Indianapolis DB Kenny Moore II was called for pass interference.

While teams usually get about an extra half-second to snap the ball before a delay of game is called, CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore said (per play-by-play man Ian Eagle), "that should have been a delay."

Looking at the replay, color analyst J.J. Watt was highly critical of the pass interference call.

"That little arm is not enough at all to be called," Watt said. "That is barely handfighting at best...It's a double hit for the Colts and you can certainly understand why they are so irate. On the front end with the delay of game and on the back end with the phantom penalty."

The pass interference call became more significant three plays later when the Texans scored a touchdown. And in the immediate aftermath of the touchdown, another controversy arose. Houston's Ka'imi Fairbairn appeared to miss the extra point. Despite that, it was called good.

Indianapolis' final drive provided one more controversy.

Trailing 20-16, the Colts drove into Texans' territory. On a first down, Daniel Jones handed the ball off to Jonathan Taylor, who was stopped for a one-yard gain. Only, it soon became apparent that Houston's Calen Bullock pulled on Taylor's earhole, which should have been a facemask penalty.

"By definition, it's grasped, twist, turn control," Steratore said, H/T Rate the Refs on X. "We can clearly see that Bullock's got two fingers stuck in there."

Moments like this happen far too often, especially if the NFL wants coaches, players and fans to have confidence in the officials.