NFL fans are debating long into the evening over a controversial interception at the end of the AFC Divisional round game between the Denver Broncos and the Buffalo Bills.
With the game tied at 30-30, Bills quarterback Josh Allen launched a deep pass intended for wide receiver Brandin Cooks – who was being covered by Denver safety Ja’Quan McMillian.
Both players went up for the ball, both players fought for the ball the whole way down and the two landed without it being clear who had possession.
But McMillian popped up with the ball in his hands – sending Mile High into rapture while Bills fans at home hung their heads down.
Except, on the instant replay, it looked like a much closer battle than expected. Both receiver and defender appeared to grapple for possession the entire way – with it appearing Cooks to have majority control at one point while his knee touched the ground.
But the play was never reviewed. The Broncos were able to get to the line and snap the ball before the replay booth called down to take a look at the play.
A controversial interception from Broncos star Ja’Quan McMillian has the internet divided
McMillian and Bills receiver Brandin Cooks fought for a pass thrown by Buffalo’s Josh Allen
Amid the scrum, McMillian came up with the ball and the Broncos went on to win the game
In the post-game pool report, referee Carl Cheffers addressed the play: ‘The receiver has to complete the process of a catch. He was going to the ground as part of the process of the catch and he lost possession of the ball when he hit the ground.
‘The defender gained possession of it at that point. The defender is the one that completed the process of the catch, so the defender was awarded the ball.’
But the Bills begged to differ. After the game, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott criticized the officials for getting the call incorrect, in his eyes.
‘I’m standing up for Buffalo, dammit, I’m standing up for us,’ McDermott told reporters. ‘What went on is not… that is not how it should go down, in my estimation.’
The call divided the internet – with fans on both opinions sounding off on social media. Those who believe that Cooks caught the ball called the refs decisions ‘completely scripted’ among other accusations.
‘We got another first in @NFL history. A @BuffaloBills wide receiver catches and is down with possession of the ball and AFTER the fact Denver defense “strips the ball” for an “interception”. The @NFL is 100% rigged. The @NFLOfficiating can fck right off,’ wrote one user on X.
Another said, ‘COOKS HAS CONTROL OF THE BALL WHEN HE IS DOWN! THE ONLY REASON MCMILLIAN IS ABLE TO GET THE BALL IS BECAUSE HIS MOMENTUM HELPS HIM PULL THE BALL AWAY BUT COOKS IS ALREADY DOWN!!!!’
‘I can watch the replay 1,000 times and I’ll never see it as an interception I just don’t see it,’ wrote Barstool Sports’ Eric Nathan.
Some fans believe that Cooks had full possession of the ball and that it should be ruled a catch
Referee Carl Cheffers told reporters that the receiver did not survive the ground
Meanwhile, there were plenty of fans who believe that the officials got the call right.
‘Listen. It’s not complicated and not debatable. Brandin Cooks did not survive the ground and did not have possession. He bobbled the ball as he hit the ground. Should have been an interception and was ruled correctly,’ wrote one fan.
Another posted, ‘I think this is the key. Both players have their hands on the ball early, so at this point either they survive the ground with joint possession (offense gets it), one player survives with sole possession, or the ball hits the ground and it’s incomplete. McMillian ends up with it.’
Fox Sports’ Kevin Wildes posted, ‘I would say Cooks doesn’t have the ball because McMillian has the ball.’
The Broncos will be hosting the winner of Sunday’s AFC Divisional round game between the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans.
But they will do so without starting quarterback Bo Nix, who broke a bone in his ankle on one of the final plays of the game and will require season-ending surgery. In his place, Jarrett Stidham – who hasn’t thrown a pass in the NFL since 2023 – will get the start.
