{"id":687127,"date":"2026-01-18T20:26:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T20:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/687127\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T20:26:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T20:26:20","slug":"bills-broncos-nfl-rules-analyst-weighs-in-on-controversial-overtime-interception","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/687127\/","title":{"rendered":"Bills-Broncos: NFL rules analyst weighs in on controversial overtime interception"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Sunday\u2019s \u201cNFL Gameday \u201d broadcast, NFL rules analyst Walt Anderson shared his thoughts on the controversial Denver Broncos overtime interception<\/a> that led to a game-winning field goal, ending the Buffalo Bills\u2019 season in the divisional round with a 33-30 loss<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bills quarterback Josh Allen launched a deep pass to receiver Brandin Cooks, who appeared to catch the ball before falling to the ground as the ball spurted free, with Broncos defensive back Ja\u2019Quan McMillian rolling over the top of Cooks\u2019 body and taking the ball with him before it hit the ground. The play was ruled an interception, and Anderson, analyzing the play, agreed with the call.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the receiver\u2019s going to the ground, as soon as he hits the ground, the ball is immediately loose,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cBy definition, that would normally be an incomplete pass if it comes out and hits the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality here is the ball never hits the ground. The loose ball ends up being immediately in control by the defensive player, who then rolls over with the ball, and he maintains control of the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Catch or INT? Walt Anderson dives into the officials’ decisions last night \ud83d\udc47 pic.twitter.com\/7DhIHe9EPT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NFL GameDay (@NFLGameDay) January 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Anderson wasn\u2019t the only expert to share thoughts on the play. NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay weighed in on X with his expertise, echoing the sentiments of Anderson and the officiating crew\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n

The responses to me quoting the rule here are fascinating. <\/p>\n

To be clear, by rule, this is not a completed catch by the receiver. It\u2019s an interception. https:\/\/t.co\/BswEXpsOfe<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/xEQPMj03eG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Terry McAulay (@tjmcaulay) January 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

As Bills coach Sean McDermott stood at the podium after the game, he had not yet made sense of the call and wondered why officials had not taken more time during the review process.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my eyes, it was (a catch), yes,\u201d McDermott said. \u201cBut even if it wasn\u2019t \u2014 I\u2019m being objective here \u2014 even if it wasn\u2019t, the players are owed, to me, \u2018Hey, let\u2019s stop it, let\u2019s slow it down, let\u2019s put the head referee and give him a chance to look at the monitor,\u2019 just to make sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

To a pool of reporters, he gave an even more incensed take on the play.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat play is not even close,\u201d McDermott said. \u201cThat\u2019s a catch all the way. I sat in my locker, and I looked at it probably 20 times, and nobody can convince me that that ball is not caught and in possession of Buffalo. I just have no idea how the NFL handled it, in particular, the way that they did. I think the players and the fans deserve an explanation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anderson said there are replay officiating crews on site and at the league office in New York, using multiple camera angles to review every single play. Their goal is to confirm or adjust each call to ensure the ruling is correct.<\/p>\n

\u201cReplay has all of these angles to take a look and see \u2018was the ruling on the field wrong, or was the ruling on the field correct?\u2019\u201d Anderson said. \u201cIf you can confirm that the ruling on the field is correct, they really want to move the game along, and they don\u2019t want to have unnecessary stoppages.\u201d<\/p>\n

McMillian, as expected, agreed with Anderson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just fought through the hands and made the play,\u201d McMillian told<\/a> reporters. \u201cHe actually came down with it, but since I had my hands on the ball, I was able to take it from him. I just held the ball up and showed the fans some love.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bills\u2019 season ended in heartbreak again, as the Broncos moved on to their first AFC Championship Game appearance since Peyton Manning\u2019s last ride in 2015-16. They\u2019ll have to do without starting quarterback Bo Nix, as head coach Sean Payton announced after the game that he had suffered a broken ankle<\/a> on one of the last plays of the game and would miss the rest of the postseason.<\/p>\n

In Nix\u2019s place, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham<\/a>, who has taken one snap all season, will attempt to get Denver past the winner of Sunday\u2019s divisional round matchup between the Houston Texans and New England Patriots.<\/p>\n