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Buffalo Bills fans – and head coach Sean McDermott – aren’t thrilled with the ruling from Saturday night, but head referee Carl Cheffers stood by his team.
In overtime, the Denver Broncos benefited from a controversial interception and two defensive pass interference that helped them complete a 33-30 victory to advance to the AFC title game.
On their first and only overtime possession, Josh Allen threw a deep pass to Brandin Cooks. At first, it looked like simultaneous possession, which would have led to the Bills holding the ball. But as Cooks went to the ground with the pigskin, the ball rolled into a position where Broncos defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian was able to scoop it away for an interception as Cooks lay on his back.
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Denver Broncos cornerback Ja’quan McMillian intercepts a pass intended for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks during overtime of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Empower Field at Mile High. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
The instant replay review showed that Cooks was down on the ground with the ball, which would typically end the play and give the Bills a completion. But enough of the ball was already in McMillian’s arms when Cooks hit the ground that the officials didn’t reverse the call after looking at it.
“The receiver must complete the process of a catch. He was on his way to the ground as part of the process of the catch, and he lost possession of the ball when he hit the ground. The defensive player gained possession of it at that time. The defensive player is the one who completed the process of the catch, so the defensive player was awarded the ball,” Cheffers said in the NFL’s postgame pool report.
Ja’quan McMillian of the Denver Broncos intercepts a pass intended for Brandin Cooks of the Buffalo Bills during overtime in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Empower Field At Mile High on January 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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When asked if the ball hit the ground, Cheffers replied, “No. It was confirmed in the replay process. The interception was confirmed.”
Cheffers was then asked about both pass interference that helped the Broncos get into chip-shot range.
“The first (second-and-10 at the Broncos’ 47-yard line) was an arm grab. The defensive player was holding the receiver’s right arm down, preventing him from going up for the pass with two hands. He was trying to catch the ball with one arm. And so, that limitation of his right arm was the reason that pass interference was called,” Cheffers said.
“The second was early contact and an arm grab that materially limited the receiver.”
Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’davious White is called for pass interference on Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. during overtime of an AFC divisional round playoff game at Empower Field at Mile High. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
However, one could argue that with less than 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Broncos got away with defensive pass interference in the end zone. A flag would have put the Bills at the 1-yard line, but they instead had to settle for a field goal to force overtime.
The New England Patriots and Houston Texans face off on Sunday, with the winner heading to Denver with a trip to Super Bowl LX on the line.
