HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 21: Nick Martin #66 of the Houston Texans lifts Deshaun Watson #4 in celebration after a fourth quarter touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium on November 21, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The Indianapolis Colts lost 20-17 to the Houston Texans, but a controversial ruling on a potential Deshaun Watson people has people irate.
Deshaun Watson scrambled. The ball came out. Indianapolis began signaling frantically it had the football.
The officials disagreed. Houston won 20-17 and took over sole possession of first place in the AFC South.
The play in question came with 1:48 remaining in regulation. On 2nd and 9 from the Colts’ 41-yard line, Watson scrambled and was hit, the ball ripped out of his possession. Darius Leonard and Watson appeared to be fighting for control as they descended into a pile. The Colts began celebrating. After the game, Leonard told reporters he had the ball.
Here’s the play on video:
Regardless, the officials didn’t see it that way. They signaled third down and Houston ran another two plays to run out the clock. More curiously, there was no review. Additionally, a review was not automatically triggered because Watson was ruled to have possession, meaning there was no turnover to begin with.
All Indianapolis and its fans are left with is the cold reality of going into Thanksgiving at 6-5 and on the outside of the AFC playoff picture. With five games remaining on the schedule, it appears the Colts will at least need to win four, considering they lose tiebreakers with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders, fellow wild card contenders. The Colts lost earlier games this season to both.