NFL referees: I can’t live with them, I can’t live without them.
A controversial non-call on what appeared to be defensive pass interference by a member of the Lions secondary hampers Detroit’s frantic second-half comeback and defeat of the Houston Texans on the Week 10 edition of “Sunday Night Football.”
On the first play after the two-minute warning, and with the game deadlocked at 23 apiece, Texans quarterback CJ Stroud threw a pass over the middle to wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson.
The ball was thrown into double coverage, although Hutchinson was knocked to the turf before he even had a chance to make a play on it.
The second-year wideout was crossing the middle of the field, but slowed his approach as the pass approached.
Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was a step behind Hutchinson and crashed into his back, sending both players tumbling to the turf.
“Terry [McAulay]It’s early contact, isn’t it? asked Cris Collinsworth as NBC showed slow-motion replays of the third-down completion.
“That’s true,” NBC rules analyst McAulay responded. “He plays from behind before the ball is returned…it should have been a defensive pass interference foul.”
The referees made no such call on the play, leading to the Texans sending the field goal unit. Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 58-yard attempt went wide left and the Lions regained possession.
Detroit’s ensuing drive started at its own 48-yard line, chewed up the remaining 1:58 of clock time and ended with a game-winning 52-yard field goal at the buzzer off the rookie kicker’s boot Jake Bates.
Bates’ kick capped an auspicious comeback in Jared Goff’s least auspicious start to the season. Despite the quarterback’s five interceptions and a 23-7 halftime deficit, the Lions won by a final score of 26-23.
With the victory, Detroit earned its division-leading eighth victory of the season. Meanwhile, the hobbled Texans fell to 6-4.
“I think it almost seems too scripted, it’s too good to be true,” Bates said of his winner, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Houston agrees.
