Refs cause Texans, Bills chaos with DeAndre Carter touchback-touchdown ruling

NFL officiating reached a new level of bizarre and ESPN missed it.

The Bills kicked off to open the second half of their AFC divisional round game Saturday against the Texans, leading 13-0, and chaos ensued after ESPN cut away to sideline reporter Lisa Salters as Buffalo scored a touchdown that was later taken away.

Texans return man DeAndre Carter caught the ball in the end zone, but did not take a knee. Carter made no attempt to advance the ball and looked at the nearest official to take it from him. When the official did not offer to take it, Carter threw the ball to his right in the end zone. It was scooped up by the Bills’ Jaquan Johnson and called a touchdown.

Carter eventually went on to the field to confront the official about the call, but he was cut off by sideline officials, who eventually overturned the touchdown and made it a touchback after some discussion.

Mike Pereira, the NFL’s former vice president of officiating, backed up the call being change.

“Didn’t see what happened on the touchback in the end zone but even if you don’t down it, tossing the ball to the official or dropping the ball intentionally ends the play,” Pereira wrote on Twitter. “You are deemed to have given yourself up.”