# Colts-Chargers game: question about the interception by Grover Stewart
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170
**Category:** The Game Room
**Tags:** football-nfl
**Created:** [October 21, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170 "2025-10-21T17:26:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/1 "2025-10-21T17:26:08Z")
I did not see the game, – I’ve only seen the highlight cllips on Youtube.
My question is about the play where “Big man” Grover Stewart made an interception.
I don’t understand what happened after the play. I have seen only a 29-second clip of it, and I need some context.
After the interception, the field and the sidelines empty out, and we see Stewart (still holding the ball) and another 30 Colts players all jumping with joy on the field, and running the length of the field, as if it was the end of the half or something and they’re running to the locker room.
But the display shows that it is still the middle of the 2nd quarter, with 6:38 remaining to play till halftime. The play was 3rd down and 3 when the Chargers threw the interception. So why didn’t the game continue, 1st and 10 for the Colts?
So I’m missing something…what happened?.
here is the 29-second clip of the play. My question is what happens starting at the 15-second mark
> **[After having hand in 3 Colts interceptions, Grover Stewart finally gets one...](https://www.colts.com/news/after-having-hand-in-3-colts-interceptions-grover-stewart-finally-gets-one-of-his-own-in-win-over-chargers)**
>
> Stewart tipped a Justin Herbert pass to himself for his first career interception in the Colts’ 38-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
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### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/2 "2025-10-21T17:36:49Z")
I assume the over-the-top celebration afterward is because this guy has been playing for like ten years and this is his first ever interception.
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### Author:  [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/3 "2025-10-21T17:40:15Z")
yes, that’s true, --it’s a good reason to celebrate.
But there are rules. Which don’t allow 30 players from the sidelines to run onto the field, and then all run full speed down the whole field like an unruly bunch of children.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/4 "2025-10-21T17:40:32Z")
Not just is that his first interception, he’s a massive defensive linemen. These guys never get interceptions. They shove guys around and stop runs. They aren’t usually in the place for a interception and aren’t built for it.
It’s such a novelty, I am not surprised people went bananas.
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> Which don’t allow 30 players from the sidelines to run onto the field, and then all run full speed down the whole field like an unruly bunch of children.
Since when is that a rule?
I see players routinely run down to the end zone to pose for a celebration picture after a turnover.
Keep in mind, there is a break in play because there is a change of possession, so this wasn’t causing a delay of game or anything.
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### Author:  [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/5 "2025-10-21T17:49:58Z")
> [@Atamasama](#):
>
> Since when is that a rule?
well,I dunno.
But there used to be penalties for even a simple celebration( if one man danced in the endfield after he scored.)
And I just kinda assume that players on the sidelines are s’possed to stay there
And I just kinda assume that when the ball changes possession, the guy who caught the interception gives the ball to the referree, who places it on the spot, while both teams send in their offensive or defensive players as expected, and the game continues in an orderly fashion.
That’s the way it works, right?
Since when does the guy holding the ball in the middle of the field get to steal it and run away? 🙂
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### Author:  [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/6 "2025-10-21T17:51:53Z")
It does seem a _wee_ bit much, even considering the unusual circumstances.
I’m reminded of when BJ Raji intercepted a pass and (and even ran it in for a TD) in the Packers/Bears 2010 NFC championship game. I would argue those were bigger stakes, and while there was celebration it seemed consistent with a typical pick six, without a whole lot of extra on account of it being big man BJ Raji.
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### Author:  [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/7 "2025-10-21T18:01:16Z")
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> But there used to be penalties for even a simple celebration( if one man danced in the endfield after he scored.)
They significantly loosened the celebration rules about ten years ago.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/8 "2025-10-21T18:05:02Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#):
>
> They significantly loosened the celebration rules about ten years ago
This.
As long as you don’t taunt an opponent, or make a pistol with your fingers, or slash your neck, you can pretty much do anything.
And I’m okay with that. Let them celebrate.
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### Author:  [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/9 "2025-10-21T18:07:28Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> And I’m okay with that. Let them celebrate.
Particularly with a play like this, that is actually out of the ordinary, and set a team record as well.
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/10 "2025-10-21T18:20:16Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> As long as you don’t taunt an opponent, or make a pistol with your fingers, or slash your neck, you can pretty much do anything.
Can’t use a prop.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/11 "2025-10-21T19:13:18Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#):
>
> Can’t use a prop
Not even a Sharpie.
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### Author:  [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/12 "2025-10-21T19:15:46Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> As long as you don’t taunt an opponent, or make a pistol with your fingers, or slash your neck, you can pretty much do anything.
Can’t dunk the ball over the goalpost after a TD. Seahawks penalized for that last night. Seemed a lot less than what usually happens after a turnover these days.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/13 "2025-10-21T19:33:15Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> As long as you don’t taunt an opponent, or make a pistol with your fingers, or slash your neck, you can pretty much do anything.
>
> And I’m okay with that. Let them celebrate.
Indeed. Fans, for years, joked that NFL stood for “No Fun League,” due to the strict rules about celebrations. Somewhere along the line, the league must have figured out that younger fans wanted to see that sort of thing, and it comes down to the league wanting to make sure that they keep the money coming in, by appealing to those fans.
> [@Procrustus](#):
>
> Can’t dunk the ball over the goalpost after a TD. Seahawks penalized for that last night.
I suspect that it’s because a dunk over the goalpost could knock the post out of alignment, if the player puts any weight on the post during it.
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/14 "2025-10-21T19:35:46Z")
Paging @Hingle_McCringleberry
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/15 "2025-10-21T20:14:37Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> I suspect that it’s because a dunk over the goalpost could knock the post out of alignment, if the player puts any weight on the post during it.
He drew the flag for being awesome.
Look at this picture from the moment. Perfectly lined up with the official having his hands in the air with the TD signal.
[ ](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_594,h_334,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_2160,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FvoltaxMediaLibrary%2Fmmsport%2Fsi%2F01k82akkhwmk13ckwjjb.jpg)
It looks like an old Michael Jordan poster.
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### Author:  [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2025, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/16 "2025-10-21T22:04:47Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> I suspect that it’s because a dunk over the goalpost could knock the post out of alignment, if the player puts any weight on the post during it.
Yep, Jimmy Graham bent the goal post and now we can’t have fun like that any more.
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2025, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/17 "2025-10-22T00:24:59Z")
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> why didn’t the game continue, 1st and 10 for the Colts?
It did, probably after a commercial break for the change of possession.
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### Author:  [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2025, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colts-chargers-game-question-about-the-interception-by-grover-stewart/1024170/18 "2025-10-22T12:00:05Z")
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> That’s the way it works, right?
> Since when does the guy holding the ball in the middle of the field get to steal it and run away?
That is perfectly typical now after an interception or fumble recovery. Most of the defense will run to the opposite end zone and pose. The bench clearing is an exception though, it happened for reasons already covered.
And it’s been the case for a long time that the defender literally keeps the football and takes it home with him. Defensive backs often put their intercepted balls on display in their house.
In case you didn’t know, each team provides their own balls that they use on offense. So the football itself is always switched out when possession changes, whether due to a turnover, punt or score. So the intercepting player is actually taking the ball away from the other team.