In the first quarter of Sunday’s game, the Houston Texans lined up to go for it on 4th-and-2 before being penalized for a false start just before the ball was snapped. The play was blown dead and Houston would have faced a 4th-and-7 if not for a penalty called against Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton.
Singleton continued his route to Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud after the whistle had blown and he reached the QB and gave him a slight push. Stroud then smacked his helmet against Singleton’s helmet, and the linebacker then pushed the QB again and was penalized.
Regardless of whether or not Stroud should have been penalized for his own actions, Singleton should not have retaliated.
“We let a rookie bait us into a personal foul,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said during his conference call with reporters on Monday.
That penalty gave Houston a first down and they went on to score a touchdown in a game that was eventually decided by five points. Singleton’s penalty likely ended up being a four-point swing, and Denver had the ball within field goal distance at the end of the game.
So it’s probably not unfair to say Singleton’s penalty essentially cost the Broncos the game, or at least cost them a potentially game-winning field goal attempt at the end of the game.
Here’s a sampling of how Twitter/X reacted to Singleton being penalized on Sunday.
C.J. Stroud does so many veteran-caliber things. Pocket management, ball placement, processing at and after the snap.
Nothing more veteran, however, than getting a flag out of Alex Singleton on 4th and 2. Unbelievable showmanship with the refs right there.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) December 3, 2023
I'm still pissed that so many Broncos fans are winning so much blame on Singleton for something so damn minor
It was definitely a little extracurricular but calling that a personal foul is still absolutely ridiculous to me. Especially when it was Stroud that started everything
— Ryan Kosior (@RyanJKosior) December 4, 2023
Gotta love how Stroud headbutts Singleton. He pushes Stroud, then 2 Texans OL shove Singleton and he’s the only person flagged in this whole thing. Just garbage officiating. https://t.co/4HsNMuKcJq
— MileHighGreco (@MileHighGreco) December 4, 2023
He head butted Alex lol but alex gets the Flag .
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) December 3, 2023
Stroud initiated contact. Shouldn’t have been called on Singleton https://t.co/VSYdtHrkUz
— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) December 3, 2023
CJ Stroud is allowed to headbutt Alex Singleton, apparently?
— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) December 3, 2023
I’m so confused didn’t CJ Stroud headbutt Singleton?
— Trevor Judge (@TrevorJudge) December 3, 2023
Come on man!!! How is that on Singleton only and not Stroud?!!
— Rod Mackey (@RodMackeySports) December 3, 2023
Yeah the white hat literally saw Stroud headbutt singleton lmao
For all the talk about helmet to helmet…😂 https://t.co/lpatYeZV2u
— Patrick Chiotti (@PatrickChiotti) December 3, 2023
I’m looking forward to hearing what went into the refs throwing this flag. Would prefer Alex not even make it close but I don’t think Singleton did anything egregious. Guess head butts are allowed #BroncosCountry 🤷🏾♂️#DENvsHOU pic.twitter.com/y3lSHTNEQh
— Nick Ferguson (@NickFerguson_25) December 4, 2023
Stroud head butted him. Flag on Singleton. https://t.co/CvMfY4HDAA
— Will Keys (@GuillermoLlaves) December 3, 2023
Singleton finished the game with 12 tackles and one sack. Stroud finished the game with 274 passing yards and one touchdown in a 22-17 Texans win.
