The Houston Texans looked like they had turned things around against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium when quarterback Deshaun Watson scrambled out of a sack on third-and-goal from the 4-yard line to find receiver DeAndre Hopkins to put Houston ahead 9-3 with 6:47 in the second quarter.
Instead of scoring field goals while the Colts scored touchdowns, the Texans would start adding six-pointers of their own.
Referee Tony Corrente ruled Watson was in the grasp and the play was a sack, a loss of nine yards, and it was fourth down. Ultimately, Houston settled for a 31-yard Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal and were a point away from the Colts rather than three points ahead.
Watson pleaded his case with Corrente.
“I went back and forth with the ref,” Watson told reporters. “He said that I was down. I don’t — I mean, if you watch the tape of all the plays that I stand and make plays, especially in the red zone. He said he was trying to protect my health.”
The Pro Bowl signal caller finished going 23-of-34 for 308 yards, a touchdown, two interceptions, and taking three sacks throughout the course of a contest that saw the Texans perpetually behind, never to claim the lead. A touchdown at that stage of the game while the complexion of the contest was still being meted out “would have made a big difference,” according to Watson.
However, Watson won’t blame Corrente for the ultimate outcome, which sends the Texans to 4-3 on the season, the Colts to 4-2, and Houston chasing Indianapolis in the standings just as they were all over the turf of Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday afternoon.
“It goes back and forth, but that’s the call he made,” said Watson. “We got to live with it.”
