Sunday’s Texans-Colts matchup didn’t just deliver on-field drama - it also stirred up plenty of controversy around the officiating. Three particular calls in the fourth quarter stood out, and after the game, referee Clay Martin addressed each one in a pool report. While these reports don’t always offer the clarity fans are hoping for, they at least give us a window into how certain decisions are made in real time.
Let’s break down what happened - and what Martin had to say.
1. The Play Clock That Hit Zero - But No Flag
Late in the fourth quarter, the Texans snapped the ball after the play clock had clearly hit zero. No delay of game was called, and Colts fans (and players) were understandably puzzled. Martin explained the mechanics of how that call is made:
“The back judge is the calling official and there is a process on that,” Martin said. “When the clock hits zero, he looks down to 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.”
This isn’t an unusual interpretation in the NFL. Unlike the NBA’s shot clock, which triggers a buzzer the moment it expires, the NFL’s system requires the official to visually confirm that the clock has hit zero before checking the ball.
That creates a built-in buffer - typically about a second - where the snap can still be considered legal. It’s a judgment call that’s been applied consistently, even if it doesn’t always sit well with fans in the moment.
2. The Pass Interference on Kenny Moore
On the very same play, Colts cornerback Kenny Moore was flagged for pass interference against Texans receiver Xavier Hutchinson - even though Hutchinson appeared to lose his footing on his own. Martin explained that the official saw contact at the top of the route:
“The calling official had an arm grab at the top of the route. When you look back, the ball was in the air, and when you see the ball in the air, that makes it pass interference.”
Now, here’s where things get a little murky. By rule, pass interference requires that the contact materially restrict the receiver’s ability to make the catch.
A grab that doesn’t impact the route or the play’s outcome typically wouldn’t draw a flag. But again, this comes down to the official’s judgment in real time - and in this case, they saw enough to throw the flag.
It’s the kind of borderline call that can swing momentum in a close game, and it’s easy to see why it left Colts fans frustrated.
3. The Extra Point That Looked Wide
Later in the fourth, the Texans lined up for an extra point that, to many watching, looked like it might have missed. But the officials ruled it good - and Martin stood by that call postgame:
“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,” Martin said. “Since the ball was above the upright, it’s not reviewable.”
This one’s all about positioning. If the ball travels above the upright, it’s up to the official’s on-field view to determine whether it passed inside or outside the post - and by rule, those kicks are not subject to replay review. So while fans at home might’ve seen it differently, the call stands as made.
Final Takeaway
Controversial calls are part of the game, but they always feel heavier when they come in the fourth quarter of a tight contest. While the NFL’s pool reports don’t often provide game-changing revelations, they do offer some insight into how and why certain decisions were made.
In this case, the Texans walked away with a win, but the Colts - and their fans - are left wondering what could’ve been if just one of those calls had gone the other way.