Controversial Overtime Interception Sparks Bills Protest After Broncos Eliminate Buffalo in AFC Divisional Round

DENVER — A disputed overtime interception and a replay process questioned by Buffalo’s head coach became the defining moment of the Bills’ 33 to 30 playoff loss to the Denver Broncos on Saturday night, ending Buffalo’s season amid renewed scrutiny of NFL officiating standards.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott remained in the locker room long after the game, reviewing the decisive overtime play repeatedly and reaching the same conclusion each time. McDermott said wide receiver Brandin Cooks completed the catch on third and 11 from Buffalo’s 36 yard line before losing the ball, a ruling that would have placed the Bills in position for a potential game winning field goal. Instead, the play was ruled an interception by Denver cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, giving the Broncos possession and ultimately sealing the outcome.

Josh Allen’s deep throw appeared to be secured by Cooks as he went to the ground, with video showing what McDermott described as clear possession and a knee down by contact. As the two players landed, McMillian wrestled the ball away and emerged holding it. Officials ruled that Cooks did not complete the process of the catch, and because challenges are not permitted in overtime, the Bills were unable to formally contest the call on the field.

Referee Carl Cheffers later explained that replay officials determined Cooks was going to the ground as part of the catch and lost possession upon contact with the turf, while McMillian completed the process by securing the ball. Cheffers said the replay process in New York confirmed the ball did not touch the ground and upheld the interception ruling.

McDermott said his frustration was less about disagreement and more about transparency and procedure. He questioned why the on field referee did not stop play to review the same footage being evaluated by league officials in New York, calling the handling of the situation unacceptable given the stakes of a playoff overtime.

McMillian credited technique and effort for the turnover, saying Cooks had position initially but that he fought through the receiver’s hands and finished the play. Broncos head coach Sean Payton called the interception an outstanding defensive play, a characterization that further fueled debate among players and fans following the game.

Cooks acknowledged postgame that while he believed he caught the pass, he could have done more to eliminate doubt. Several Bills players expressed disagreement with the ruling publicly after the game, reinforcing the sense within the organization that the moment altered the outcome.

The controversy did not end there. On the Broncos’ ensuing possession, Buffalo was flagged for 2 defensive pass interference penalties on the same overtime drive, a rarity in league history. The second call, against cornerback Tre’Davious White while defending Marvin Mims Jr., moved the ball to the Bills’ 8 yard line and set up Wil Lutz’s game winning 23 yard field goal.

White disputed the call, saying he played through the receiver’s hands and that Mims was not making a play on the ball. League data shows Buffalo became only the second team in the past 25 years, including regular season and postseason, to be penalized for multiple defensive pass interference calls on a single overtime drive.

The loss closed another playoff run for Buffalo built around Allen and a veteran core that has now fallen short of a Super Bowl appearance despite multiple deep postseason advances. For Denver, the win advanced the Broncos while shifting focus to broader questions about consistency in replay application and communication during critical moments.

As the NFL moves deeper into the postseason, the league’s replay and officiating processes are again under examination, with coaches and players calling for clearer explanations and more visible accountability. What this means going forward is not yet defined, but the latest timeline suggests continued pressure on the league to address how game deciding plays are reviewed when seasons are on the line.