Houston Texans have TD taken away after instant replay review cites unfamiliar NFL rule

A bizarre sequence near the end of the first half of the Houston Texans' win over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night had many fans shaking their heads.

Facing second-and-10 from their own 45-yard line, Dolphins quarterback Brock Osweiler was hit by the Texans' Josh Keyes at the 37-yard line, the ball came loose and landed at the 34-yard line. The Texans' Natrell Jamerson picked up the football and ran into the end zone for a touchdown. Or, so we thought.

Of course, all scoring plays are reviewed by replay officials. And, after further review, the call was reversed. The officials ruled that it was an incomplete pass. Huh? 

An NFL rulebook deep cut was cited as the reason for the reversal. Rule 8-1-1-1a cites: "If, after intentional forward movement of his hand, contact by an opponent materially affects the passer, causing the ball to go backward, it is a forward pass, regardless of where the ball strikes the ground, a player, an official, or anything else."

Ultimately, the play didn't have a profound impact on the final result, as the Texans cruised past the Dolphins, 42-23, to win a fifth consecutive game.

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Follow Paste BN Sports' Jim Reineking on Twitter @jimreineking.

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