NFL referees once again are under the spotlight after a controversial ending to the Houston Texans vs. the Los Angeles Chargers. The Week 17 duel ended with the Texans taking a 20-16 win to clinch a playoff berth, stay in the race for the AFC South title and end the Chargers’ chances to take down the Denver Broncos in the AFC West.
With 2:32 left in the fourth quarter, the Chargers’ defense sacked C.J. Stroud for a 9-yard loss. The Chargers would have taken the ball back, but the referees called illegal contact on cornerback Tarheeb Still. The Texans kept the ball, and Stroud kneeled twice to end the game.
The Chargers just got SCREWED by the refs…
That's an unbelievable flag to throw, essentially giving the Texans the game.
These refs need to be investigated 🤦♂️pic.twitter.com/QNubWVOGoC
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 28, 2025
The Chargers’ hottest female fan hoped to celebrate, but the game went south.
The call elicited a wide range of reactions from fans. Many called out referees on social media, accusing them of sabotaging the Chargers.
“The roughing the passer call on the chargers was aweful as well,” one fan said.
The roughing the passer call on the chargers was aweful as well
— Brett Marlowe (@BrettMarlowe4) December 28, 2025
“The ref has to have money on this game. The refs call roughing the passer on Chargers were questionable. How many missed illegal contact calls did this ref not call when Texans were all over Chargers receivers all game,” another fan said.
The ref has to have money on this game. The refs call roughing the passer on Chargers were questionable. How many missed illegal contact calls did this ref not call when Texans were all over Chargers receivers all game.
— Adam Smith (@AdamSmithawxu) December 28, 2025
“How does this get called this late in a game? Ruined any chance of a comeback. And the qb was getting sacked anyways. Unbelievable,” a third fan said.
How does this get called this late in a game? Ruined any chance of a comeback. And the qb was getting sacked anyways. Unbelievable
— Beal burner (@Hibachis0) December 28, 2025
“This call was even worse than the roughing-the-passer penalty on Stroud. This game is becoming unbearable to watch. It’s f****ng football,” another fan wrote.
This call was even worse than the roughing-the-passer penalty on Stroud. This game is becoming unbearable to watch. It’s fucking football.
— Mark Philippe (@MarkPhi11756333) December 28, 2025
“No dog in this fight but this was one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen. Inexcusable,” a fifth fan said.
No dog in this fight but this was one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen. Inexcusable
— Cousin Greg (@cwiktrippack) December 28, 2025
***“Brutal call, almost as bad as the call where they...