It seemed that both the ball and the call slipped away from them.
Following a series of contentious decisions in the Bills’ overtime defeat to the Broncos during the NFL Divisional Round, head coach Sean McDermott expressed his frustration with the officials during the postgame press conference.
McDermott was particularly critical of a specific incident in overtime where Broncos cornerback Jaquan McMillian intercepted a pass directed at receiver Brandin Cooks.
Cooks seemed to be at a disadvantage, and the pivotal call on a third-and-11 pass by Josh Allen ultimately shifted the momentum, paving the way for Denver’s 33-30 triumph.
“It’s tough to grasp why it was ruled that way. I had the chance to review it, but it’s hard to comprehend,” McDermott remarked. “If that’s how it was determined, why didn’t we slow things down to verify?”
“I think it would have made sense to take a moment and ensure the call was correct because it was such a crucial play. We were at our 20-yard line and could have kicked a game-winning field goal.”
Referee Karl Chaffers later clarified the decision.
“The receiver must complete the catch process,” Chaffers explained to reporters. “He was being tackled while making the catch and lost control of the ball when it touched the ground. At that point, the defender took possession. As he completed the catch process, the ball was awarded to him.”
That interception was not only significant but also part of five critical turnovers for Buffalo, which included two interceptions and two fumbles lost by Allen.
An emotional Allen, tearful during the press conference, didn’t dwell much on the officials, while McDermott adopted a much more assertive stance.
“I’m saying this because I’m defending Buffalo, no doubt,” McDermott stated. “I’m advocating for us. What transpired—my guess is—it shouldn’t have happened. These players gave their all after three hours of football. How can we not take a moment to ensure we got that right? That’s what really frustrates me.”
After the game, McDermott was more outspoken, describing himself as “pissed off” in a phone conversation with a reporter. He felt the interception was a “close call.”
“The bottom line is the fans deserve better. The players definitely deserve more. They should have an explanation,” McDermott insisted. “It’s unfortunate the head official didn’t have time to review the monitor when such a crucial call was on the line. I don’t get how that happens.”
“Does only one person have input, or is New York the sole referee on that call? I can’t agree with that perspective, especially for a game of this magnitude.”
Saturday’s defeat added to the playoff disappointments for the Bills under McDermott, who has been head coach since 2017.
During his tenure, Buffalo has yet to secure a spot in the Super Bowl, having fallen short of the AFC Championship Game with both McDermott and Allen, who was drafted in the first round back in 2018.
