On a fourth-and-2 from the Baltimore Ravens’ 33-yard line, Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien decided to go for it. Quarterback Deshaun Watson dropped back and pulled the trigger for the deep ball to receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Ostensibly, Hopkins could have made the play, but Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey tackled Hopkins before he could even have a chance to get his hands on the ball.
As a result of the no-call by referee Alex Kemp’s crew, there was considerable Twitter backlash.
DeAndre Hopkins literally got tackled in the end zone without the ball hitting him and there was no pass interference called. 🤔
— Damon A. Salvadore (@DamonSalvadore1) November 17, 2019
Maybe it wasn’t so much the alleged interference from Humphrey as it was the decision by New York to not overturn the no-call on the field and call pass interference after O’Brien challenged.
On a 4th down play, DeAndre Hopkins was clearly and obviously interfered with by Marlon Humphrey. No flag was called.
Bill O'Brien challenged. Upon further review, the ref decided it was not a penalty.
Just pathetic.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 17, 2019
Seriously @NFL, just get rid of the challenging PI rule
Your officiating is a joke and the rule is even more pathetic because the league won’t overturn it
Houston just got screwed because of inept officiating
— Jim Nies (@BigJimSports) November 17, 2019
We had another example in the Houston-Baltimore game of the NFL office not overturning a terrible non call on Pass Interference. Houston should have had the ball at the 1 yd line. This is getting ridiculous.
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) November 17, 2019
Change a PI call for once you cowards.
— Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) November 17, 2019
Even former Ravens safety Eric Weddle opined that the decision to not overturn the call was highly questionable.
How does that not get overturned. Awful
— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) November 17, 2019
Obvious PI on Ravens and of course it's not called by New York. A waste of a timeout by O'Brien.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) November 17, 2019
I don't understand what part of what Marlon Humphrey did WASN'T pass interference. And that doesn't get overturned?! Forget about even trying anymore.
— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) November 17, 2019
Ultimately, with just five overturned decisions on the field relative to pass interference, the league seems to be sending a message with the new rule to challenge pass interference.
Everyone in the World: Will you please call the obvious pass interference?
The NFL: pic.twitter.com/m0yyrWkVGA
— The Informer (@therealinformer) November 17, 2019