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Buffalo Bills fans, and head coach Sean McDermott, aren’t thrilled about Saturday night’s officiating, but head referee Carl Cheffers stood his ground.
In overtime, the Denver Broncos benefited from a controversial interception and two defensive pass interference calls that helped them complete a 33-30 victory to advance to the AFC title game.
On their first and only possession in overtime, Josh Allen threw a deep pass to Brandin Cooks. At first, it looked like a simultaneous possession, which would have led to the Bills keeping the ball. But when Cooks fell to the ground with the pigskin, the ball rolled into a position where Broncos defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian was able to snatch it away for an interception while Cooks was lying 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/Image Images)
Instant replay review showed Cooks was on the ground with possession of the ball, which would normally end the play and give the Bills a completion. But there was enough of the ball in McMillian’s arms when Cooks fell to the ground that the referees did not reverse the decision after reviewing it.
“The receiver has to complete the process of a catch. He was going to the ground as part of the catch process, and he lost possession of the ball when he hit the ground. The defender took possession of it at that time. The defender is the one who completed the catch process, so the ball was awarded to the defender,” Cheffers said in the NFL’s postgame 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 responded: “No. That was confirmed in the replay process. The interception was confirmed.”
Cheffers was then asked about both pass interference calls that helped the Broncos get into shooting range.
“The first one (second-and-10 at the Broncos 47-yard line) was an arm grab. The defender kept the receiver’s right arm down, which prevented him from getting up to catch the pass with two hands. He was trying to grab the ball with one arm. And so, that restriction of his right arm was the reason the pass interference call was called,” Cheffers said.
“The second was an early contact and arm grab that materially restricted the receiver.”
Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’davious White is called for a pass interference call 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/Image Images)
One could argue, however, 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 had to settle for a field goal to force overtime.
The New England Patriots and Houston Texans meet on Sunday, with the winner heading to Denver with a trip to Super Bowl LX on the line.
