Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins is no stranger to making spectacular catches, but his 6-yard catch in the first quarter of the club’s 20-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts has to be one of his best of the season.
With 2:02 to go in the first quarter and facing a third-and-6 from the 50-yard line, quarterback Deshaun Watson scrambled around and threw a pass that appeared as if it was being thrown out of bounds. Hopkins made an effort to catch the ball, and while there is no denying he caught it, the question was whether he was out of bounds before controlling the catch.
DeAndre Hopkins just took the toe tap to another level 😲 @DeAndreHopkins pic.twitter.com/pT9Qy51Ow0
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 22, 2019
“Yeah, one of the refs, I don’t know why he tried to wave it off, but the other ref, he was, like, that’s a catch,” Hopkins told reporters after the win. “I think he’s watched more of my games than the other guy to know you don’t really overturn those.”
While the world will be crediting Hopkins, who finished with six catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns, the two-time All-Pro receiver is giving credit to his quarterback.
“It was a great play by Deshaun getting me the ball,” said Hopkins. “I think I might have slipped before I caught it, if I’m not mistaken. But I know, knowing Deshaun he’s going to try to get the ball out no matter where you are. So, he put the ball only where I could catch it.”
The play disproved the old adage that the boundary is an extra defender. If that is the case, then the boundary was just like all of the Colts defenders on the evening who had trouble slowing down the former 2013 first-round pick from Clemson.
Hopkins finished his 106th straight game with a reception. The Texans are 7-4 on the season with a measuring stick game against the New England Patriots in Week 13 on Sunday Night Football at NRG Stadium.