Walt Anderson: Under the current rules, the officials were right to penalize the Texans on Saturday

A pair of penalties against the Texans in Saturday’s 23-14 loss to the Chiefs drew plenty of attention during and after the game, but the NFL boss said both calls were correct under current rules.

Senior vice president of officiating Walt Anderson told NFL Network that there is one could argue on whether there was violent contact by Texans defensive end Will Anderson on what was ruled a roughing the passer in the first quarter of the game, but noted that NFL rules call for officials to throw a flag when there is any doubt as to whether there was rudeness. Anderson also said the replay assist can help officials raise a flag if there is no contact with the quarterback’s helmet, but there was contact on that play.

The competition committee could revisit any of these matters this offseason.

“That’s the rule for this year,” Anderson said.

The Texans were also flagged for unnecessary roughness for a hit on Mahomes after a late slide, although two Texans defensive players appeared to collide with each other while making accidental contact with Mahomes. Anderson said the replay shows the “hairline” of the Texans’ helmet hits Mahomes when the quarterback is already on the ground and that the replay assist cannot be used to adjust the call in those circumstances.