The Texans hosted the Chargers in the first game of wild-card weekend, and the playoff game featured a strange play that altered the trajectory of the contest.
Houston held a slim lead in a sloppy game, but Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had the offense driving to try and extend that advantage. Stroud appeared to turn the ball over on an interception by Chargers safety Derwin James in the end zone — but the officials changed the call well after the play was over.
Here is all there is to know about the Chargers’ overturned interception in the end zone, and why a penalty from Texans running back Joe Mixon stood on the same play.
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Derwin James interception overturned
Midway through the third quarter, Stroud tried to hit tight end Dalton Schultz in the end zone on on third-and-15. But James appeared to make an incredible grab. James was not ruled down, so he ran the ball out of the end zone for 40 yards to seemingly set up great field position for the Chargers.
On the return, Texans running back Joe Mixon was called for a personal foul penalty, one that would give Los Angeles even better field position.
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As CBS was heading to break, replay showed that Schultz made contact with James on the field, meaning James was down in the end zone and the run back would not have counted. And once the broadcast returned, the referees revealed that the interception itself was overturned, as James never fully secured the ball before it hit the ground, giving the Texans the ball back.
Had the play stood, the Chargers offense would’ve gotten the ball in Texans territory trailing by just four points. Instead, Houston retained possession and got another chance to try and finish the drive with points.
Still, the Mixon penalty was enforced, so Houston had to back up another 15 yards.
After the game, James took the high road and said he was just focusing on what he could control.
“I don’t know man, I always told you I’m not refereeing the game,” James told reporters, adding that he’s just trying to make plays for the Chargers.
Why did the Joe Mixon penalty stand?
While James pick and return didn’t count, Mixon’s penalty on the return did. Since the penalty was a personal foul call, it was applied after the play was over regardless of the outcome. Therefore, the officials enforced the penalty on the Texans offense, backing them up to second-and-30.
Houston was able to get a field goal on the play to salvage the drive, but the offense could have had a better outcome had Mixon not committed the penalty.
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