Here is what referee Clay Martin said about two roughing penalties against Texans
NFL fans were furious about two calls that went against Houston on Saturday during the Texans’ 23-14 loss to the Chiefs in an AFC Divisional playoff game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Houston defensive end Will Anderson Jr. was called for roughing the passer in the first quarter for this hit on quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“We knew it was going to be us against the refs going into this game,” Anderson told reporters, per Sports Illustrated. “I was just telling them like man, we gotta go out there and do much better. In some instances we didn’t do that, in some instances we did.”
In the third quarter, Mahomes scrambled and was hit by Henry To’oto’o. This drew a flag, too.
That penalty infuriated many fans, but Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons defended the call.
“Refs do be on (bad calls) but buddy literally lead with the crown of helmet!!,” Parsons wrote on X. “This a flag 1on1”
Referee speaks out
Referee Clay Martin spoke with a pool reporter after the game and was asked about the two calls.
Here’s what he said about the penalty on Anderson: “I had forcible contact to the facemask area and so I went with roughing the passer on that play.”
And this is what Martin said about the To’oto’o penalty: “So he slid, obviously, and when he slides, he is considered defenseless. The onus is on the defender. I had forcible contact to the hairline, to the helmet.“
