Why replay overturned Laquon Treadwell’s overtime fumble vs. Chiefs originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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“Sunday Night Football” nearly ended with a fumble by Colts WR Laquon Treadwell, but replay stepped in and extended the game by ruling him down by contact.
The dramatic sequence played out after the Colts forced a Chiefs field goal to start overtime, giving themselves a chance to go down the field and either tie the game with a field goal or win it with a touchdown.
Daniel Jones found the veteran Treadwell on a deep shot into the red zone, but the Chiefs came away with the football and celebrated what they thought was a game-ending fumble.
Instead, replay overturned the call on the field. Here’s why.
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Why Laquon Treadwell’s fumble was overturned
Officials had to determine whether Treadwell was down by contact before he lost the football on a punch-out by Nohl Williams.
Treadwell was clearly touched by a Chiefs defender as he attempted to bring in the ball, but the question replay officials had to answer was whether he had control of the ball when he was touched. If Treadwell gained control after he was touched, rather than before, it would mean he was not down by contact and lost the football.
Jones goes deep to Treadwell!
After review it’s ruled he was down by contact.
INDvsKC on NBC/Peacock
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/6GLhdpYWwr— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2026
Replay officials determined that Treadwell was indeed touched by a defender on the hip after he had gained control. That meant it was a completed catch and he was down by contact once his knee touched the field. The would-be fumble occurred after his knee touched, so it was null.
The Colts couldn’t fully capitalize, settling for a game-tying field goal and giving the ball back to the Chiefs, but they extended the game with the downfield shot that nearly went awry.
