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The Buffalo Bills’ season ended in heartbreak once again, largely due to some controversial overtime officiating.
It could be argued that the Denver Broncos got away with defensive pass interference in the end zone late in the fourth quarter, but the Bills still managed to force overtime.
However, that’s where it all went down for Buffalo, as Josh Allen threw an interception while trying to find Brandin Cooks deep.
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Ja’quan McMillian of the 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. (Matthieu Stockman/Getty Images)
At first it looked like a simultaneous possession, which would have led to the Bills keeping the ball. But as 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 for an interception while Cooks was lying on his back.
Instant replay review showed Cooks on the ground with possession of the ball, which usually ended the play and awarded the Bills the completion. But enough of the ball was already in McMillian’s arms by the time Cooks hit the ground that officials didn’t overturn the call after reviewing it.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott wanted the officials to take a long look at the play, so he called a timeout to do so — teams can’t fight in overtime.
“It would make sense to me…that the head official would come in and want to take a look at it, just to make sure everyone in the stadium is on the same page. It’s too big a play, in my opinion, and a play that potentially decided the game, too, to even slow it down,” McDermott told reporters after the 33-30 loss.
Broncos cornerback Ja’quan McMillian intercepts a pass intended for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Empower Field at Mile High. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
BILLS CONDEMNED BY BIZARRE INTERCEPTION DURING PLAYOFF DEFEAT TO BRONCOS
“It’s hard for me to understand why it was set up that way. If it’s set up that way, then why didn’t he slow down just to make sure we got it right? That would have made a lot of sense to me, to make sure we set it up right. Because it’s a crucial play in the game. We have the ball at the 20, maybe scoring a game-winning field goal right there. So I’ll leave it at that.”
But he didn’t stop there. In fact, according to the Buffalo News, the coach called the outlet from the team plane and berated the officials even more.
“This game isn’t even close,” he told the outlet. “It’s a trap all the way. I’ve sat in my locker and watched it probably 20 times, and no one can convince me that this ball isn’t caught and in Buffalo’s possession.”
The officials later didn’t help, calling defensive pass interference questionable on a badly thrown ball, putting the Broncos within field goal range.
The interception was Allen’s fourth, so there’s other blame to go around, but no one can blame Bills fans for not sleeping well Saturday night.
Ja’quan McMillian of the Broncos celebrates after intercepting a pass intended for Brandin Cooks of the Buffalo Bills during overtime at Empower Field At Mile High on January 17, 2026, in Denver. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Now, it will be the top-seeded Broncos who will await the winner of Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans.
