Surprise: NFL Referees Totally Botch Call, Rob DeAndre Hopkins Of Touchdown

Something about NFL referees and Monday nights just don’t go very well together.

Just a few weeks after that Seattle Seahawks-Buffalo Bills field-goal debacle, referees made another brutal decision, and this time it effectively cost the Houston Texans four points against the Oakland Raiders at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

DeAndre Hopkins caught a 24-yard pass from Houston quarterback Brock Osweiler in the first quarter, but it should have been a 60-yard touchdown. Instead, the play was blown dead because the refs mistakenly believed Hopkins was out of bounds as he tip-toed down the sideline.

It’s definitely close. Let’s take a look at a few freeze frames and a GIF to get a better view.

It sure looks like the refs made a bad call. And, to make matters worse, the play wasn’t reviewable. Houston coach Bill O’Brien tried to challenge it and should have been penalized, but the refs held on to their flags.

The Texans eventually made a field goal on the drive, but seven points would have looked a lot nicer than three, especially in what turned out to be a 27-20 loss.

Thumbnail photo via Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports Images