NFL Reference: Can't live with them, can't live without them.
On the Week 10 edition of “Sunday Night Football,” a no-call by a Lions secondary player that appeared to be defensive pass interference caused controversy, muddying Detroit's frantic second-half comeback and loss to the Houston Texans. .
On the first play after the two-minute warning, with the game deadlocked at 23 points, Texans quarterback CJ Stroud fired a pass up the middle toward wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson.
The ball was thrown into double cover, but Hutchinson was slammed to the turf before he had a chance to play on it.
The second-year wideout was breaking through the middle of the field, but loosened his approach as the pass got closer.
Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was one step behind Hutchinson and crashed into his back, sending both players tumbling to the turf.
“Terry” [McAulay]That's an early call, right? ” Cris Collinsworth asked NBC replayed the third-down incompletion in slow motion.
McCauley, NBC's rules analyst, said, “That's right.” “He was playing behind the ball before it was tipped…it should have been a foul for pass interference on defense.”
The referees made no such decision on this play, which resulted in the Texans ejecting their field goal unit. Kaimi Fairbairn's 58-yard attempt went wide left and the Lions got the ball back.
Detroit's ensuing drive started at its own 48-yard line with 1:58 remaining and ended with rookie kicker Jake Bates' game-winning 52-yard field goal at the buzzer.
Bates' kick capped off an auspicious comeback amid Jared Goff's most unfortunate start to the season. Despite five quarterback interceptions and trailing 23-7 at halftime, the Lions won by a final score of 26-23.
With this win, Detroit achieved its eighth win this season, leading the division. Meanwhile, the Texans struggled, losing 6-4.
“I feel like it was too scripted to be true,” Bates said of the match winner. According to the Houston Chronicle.
Houston agrees.
