The Buffalo Bills had a victory ripped out of their hands in overtime and social media is buzzing about it.
After the Bills were able to force a punt on the Denver Broncos early in overtime, Buffalo mustered a few first downs. Facing a 3rd-and-11 on their own 36, Josh Allen lofted a deep ball down the field to Brandin Cooks. Cooks, working through contact by Ja’Quan McMillian, came down with the ball. After hauling in the pass and going down to the turf, McMillian came away with the ball. In normal cases, ties go to the receiver, but the officials deemed it an interception and no replay took place.
Instead of setting up a first down deep in Broncos territory with a field goal to win the game, Denver took over and ultimately drove down the field, thanks to a few flags thrown by officials.
Needless to say, analysts and players on social media did not agree with the ruling.
John Buccigross, ESPN
“Why isn’t that a catch? Down with simultaneous possession?” Buccigross tweeted. He later added a photo of the play.
Grant Paulsen, The Fan
“This is — AT WORST — simultaneous possession. Which would count as a catch. And that’s being generous to the DB. This is such a catch.”
Adam Schein, Schein on Sports
“Bills getting totally screwed by officials in OT,” Schein tweeted.
Levi Brown, former NFL QBDave Portnoy, Barstool Sports
Portnoy added, “What are we talking about? He had total control of the ball and got it ripped away on the ground.”
Jon Feliciano, former NFL playerPrince Amukamara, former NFL cornerbackDre’Mont Jones, NFL defensive end
Jason La Canfora, NFL insider
Matt Schick, ESPNDan Hanzus, Sky Sports
Todd Haley, NFL coach
Pat Leonard, New York Daily News
Dan Orlovsky, ESPN Albert Breer, MMQB