Questionable calls in crunch time haunt Bills in playoffs again

The Buffalo Bills fell short in the playoffs once again Saturday, and their latest defeat came with controversy in the deciding moments.

The Denver Broncos eliminated the Bills by drilling a game-winning field goal in overtime. Moments earlier, officials awarded the Broncos an interception on a 50-50 ball.

Buffalo wide receiver Brandin Cooks appeared to come down with a deep ball that would've put the Bills in position to kick a game-winning field goal. However, Denver defensive back Ja'Quan McMillian, who fell on Cooks during the play, ripped the ball away. The refs then gave possession to the Broncos.

"The receiver has to complete the process of the catch, and he lost possession of the ball when he hit the ground," referee Carl Cheffers said after officiating Saturday's matchup, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. "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."

Bills head coach Sean McDermott disagrees with the officials.

"It's hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled," he said postgame, according to Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News.

McDermott called a timeout after the play to give the referees more time to confer and potentially review it. However, the NFL's officiating crew in New York confirmed the call on the field, which McDermott described as a "moot point."

"I'm saying it because I'm standing up for Buffalo, dammit," McDermott added, according to News 8 WROC. "I'm standing up for us. What went on, that's not how it should go down."

The Broncos won the game on the following drive with help from another call. Bills defensive back Taron Johnson was flagged for defensive pass interference while covering wideout Courtland Sutton. The penalty pushed Denver past midfield moments before the team sealed a 33-30 victory.

Bills pass-rusher Joey Bosa was called for roughing the passer on the same play, but Denver declined it.

The Bills were on the wrong end of multiple questionable calls last season during an AFC title game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. One of those rulings was a similar play to the McMillian-Cooks battle in which Xavier Worthy was awarded a reception instead of Buffalo receiving an interception.

The Bills remain in pursuit of their first Super Bowl appearance in the Josh Allen era.