The Buffalo Bills had already converted a pair of third downs on the road in overtime during Saturday’s AFC divisional-round playoff game against the Denver Broncos.
It looked like they moved the chains again when veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks reeled in a downfield hurl from reigning NFL MVP quarterback Josh Allen.
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But when Cooks rolled over after hitting the ground, Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian emerged with the ball. The ruling on the field was “interception.”
It didn’t change, and it was among a string of controversial calls at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High, as the Broncos pulled out a 33-30 win in the extra frame to advance to the conference title game.
Following that turnover, the CBS broadcast crew called upon rules analyst Gene Steratore for an explanation on what exactly happened.
Here’s what the former NFL official said:
“This is really close,” Steratore said. “I’m not sure that Cooks has possession coming to the ground there, to say that it would be simultaneous. It feels to me that Cooks doesn’t have firm possession of the football when they’re down by contact there.”
What is and what isn’t a simultaneous catch is covered in Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3 of the NFL rulebook:
“If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control.”
The contentious interception marked the Bills’ fifth turnover of the day. The Broncos ended up scoring 16 points off those giveaways, including three to win the game in the subsequent minutes on a 23-yard Wil Lutz field goal.
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That kick was made possible by a pair of defensive pass interference penalties.
The first was called on Buffalo nickel Taron Johnson, who was covering Denver receiver Courtland Sutton. The second was called on Bills standout cornerback Tre’Davious White as he tried to break up a pass intended for Broncos wideout Marvin Mims Jr.
Together, those infractions cost the Bills’ defense 47 yards.
White was irate about his DPI penalty, which slingshotted the Broncos 30 yards to the Bills’ 8-yard line and set up a first-and-goal that preceded Lutz’s game-winning kick.
White even slammed his helmet to the ground while arguing with an official.
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It was the culmination of a frustrating game for Buffalo, which again saw its Super Bowl dreams vanish despite gaining 449 yards and going a combined 11 of 16 on third and fourth down. The controversial calls will fuel discussion, but the Bills’ turnover-heavy performance on the road will also be dissected.