The Denver Broncos outlasted the Buffalo Bills in an overtime thriller this past weekend. The game, which Denver won 33-30, had plenty of what-if moments for both sets of fans. But the one that stuck with everyone, especially Bills fans, was the controversial interception call with 7:46 left in overtime.
Advertisement
That decision may have altered the outcome of the game. In case you missed it, here is the sequence.
Bills QB Josh Allen threw a deep bomb to WR Brandin Cooks to try and set up the game-winning field goal. The wideout leaped into the air and appeared to make a spectacular catch. However, he collided with Broncos defender Ja’Quan McMillian while going to the ground, and the cornerback emerged from the pile with the football in his hands.
In the review, the play was ruled an interception on the field, even though it appeared that Cooks had possession. The Bills went on to lose on the very next possession.
And the Bills fans, understandably frustrated, feel they were cheated out of Allen’s best chance at winning a Super Bowl. So much so that they want commissioner Roger Goodell to invoke a rare rule from the rulebook to give them a fair chance at redemption.
It’s after midnight and I’ve seen this play 30 times. I’m still livid at how this went down and feel horrible for the Bills.
1) It’s a catch, tie goes to offense
2) If not, at WORST it’s an incomplete pass
3) It was ruled an int on the field, TAKE TIME AND REVIEW THE MFer! pic.twitter.com/C1phru2clx— marshall newhouse (@MNewhouse73) January 18, 2026
Rule 17 is what it’s called. The rule deals with unfair acts and extraordinary circumstances, granting the league commissioner the authority to investigate such situations. If Goodell finds any wrongdoing, he can overturn a game’s result, order a replay from before the incident occurred, or resume play from an earlier point.
@BuffaloBills @NFL #BillsMafia thoughts???? pic.twitter.com/tiW2e5Zufb
— A babe from the 716 (@716babe) January 18, 2026
While fans were calling for the rule to be invoked, head coach Sean McDermott was fired by the Bills. The entire situation had turned messy. If the call had not been so controversial and had gone Buffalo’s way, McDermott would likely still be coaching the team.
At some point when reviewing plays, the league should consider adding a speed threshold for anything involving the element of time.
When you slow plays down to 1/100th the speed, it distorts what actually happened and makes it look like, in this case, Cooks possessed the ball… pic.twitter.com/CgEQqWaqp9
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) January 18, 2026
However, at the end of the day, this just sounds like upset Bills fans grasping desperately at straws. The league has maintained over the years that typical officiating mistakes do not amount to an unfair act or calamity.
It was a tough loss for the Bills on Saturday. Without Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson in the playoffs, many thought that Allen had a real shot at going to the Super Bowl.
Then again, it’s not like the controversial call in OT was the deciding factor in the game. The reigning MVP turned the ball over 5 times, which led to 9 extra Broncos points. A lot of the blame rests on his shoulders, and seeing his postgame reaction to the loss, it seems like he knows that. Better luck next time, Allen, and the Bills Mafia.
