by The Buffalo Bills‘ 2025-2026 postseason run came to a staggering halt on Saturday, January 17, 2026, leaving a trail of disbelief across Western New York. In an overtime period that felt like a destiny-defining moment for Josh Allen and company, a Bills controversial interception call became the flashpoint of the NFL’s latest officiating crisis. The play, involving veteran receiver Brandin Cooks and Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, didn’t just end a game; it reignited a decades-old debate about what constitutes a catch in the modern era.
The Play That Shook Empower Field
With 7:46 remaining in the extra period and the Bills driving at Denver’s 36-yard line, Josh Allen launched a deep strike toward the sideline. Brandin Cooks appeared to high-point the ball, coming down with both feet in bounds and the ball tucked firmly against his chest. However, as the pair hit the turf, McMillian wrestled the ball away, and the Bills controversial interception call was made on the field. To the naked eye, it looked like Cooks had established possession and was “down by contact” before the ball was ripped away, yet officials saw it as an ongoing process of the catch.
Breaking Down the NFL’s Catch Process
Referee Carl Cheffers defended the ruling by stating that Cooks failed to “survive the ground,” a phrase that continues to haunt NFL fanbases. In his post-game pool report regarding the Bills controversial interception call, Cheffers explained that because Cooks was going to the ground as part of the catching motion, he was required to maintain control throughout the entire contact with the turf. Because the ball shifted slightly upon impact—allowing McMillian to secure it—the league determined that the defender was actually the one who “completed” the catch.
Simultaneous Possession: The Tie Goes to the Offense
Many analysts, including former All-Pro Richard Sherman, argued that the play should have at least been ruled as simultaneous possession. According to Rule 8, Section 1, if two players gain control of the ball at the same time and remain in joint control, the ball is awarded to the passing team. If the Bills controversial interception call had been viewed through this lens, Buffalo would have retained possession at the 20-yard line, likely setting up a chip-shot field goal for Tyler Bass to win the game and advance to the AFC Championship.
Key Comparisons: Consistency Issues in 2026
| Game | Player Involved | Ruling | Result |
| Bills vs. Broncos (Playoffs) | Brandin Cooks | Interception | Bills Lose |
| Steelers vs. Ravens (Week 14) | Aaron Rodgers | Down by Contact | Completion |
| Rams vs. Bears (Playoffs) | Cade Otton | Down by Contact | Completion |
Sean McDermott Stands Up for Buffalo
An emotional Sean McDermott didn’t hold back in his post-game presser, criticizing the “expedited” nature of the review process in New York. The Bills controversial interception call was confirmed so quickly that McDermott had to burn a timeout just to force officials to look at the monitor. “I’m standing up for Buffalo, damn it,” McDermott famously told reporters, expressing his frustration that a play of such magnitude—one that literally decided a season—wasn’t given the deliberate, frame-by-frame scrutiny it deserved.
The Replay Booth’s “Expedited” Failure
The most jarring aspect of the night was the lack of a full, formal replay stoppage, a detail that exacerbated the sting of the Bills controversial interception call. Under 2026 postseason rules, the Replay Assistant in the booth has the power to confirm rulings via “expedited review” to keep the game moving. However, when the ball is moving between four different hands as two players tumble at high speed, “moving the game along” should never take priority over getting the call right. The speed with which Denver was allowed to take over suggests a systemic flaw in how the league handles high-stakes turnovers.
Looking Ahead: The Aftermath for Buffalo
As the Bills head into a long and painful offseason, the shadow of this officiating blunder will loom large over their roster decisions. While Josh Allen blamed himself for his earlier turnovers, the Bills controversial interception call is what truly snatched the momentum away when the team was on the verge of victory. The league will likely issue a “clarification” in the coming days, but for a franchise that has suffered through “13 Seconds” and “Wide Right,” a bureaucratic apology does little to heal the wound of another missed Super Bowl opportunity.
Ultimately, the debate over this play will likely lead to further rule tweaks during the 2026 NFL Owners’ Meetings. The Bills controversial interception call serves as a stark reminder that as long as the definition of a catch remains subjective, the outcome of the world’s most popular sport remains at the mercy of a whistle. For Buffalo fans, the catch was made—the ground just wasn’t the only thing Cooks had to survive; he had to survive the officiating, too.
