Nfl’s Former Vp Of Officiating Explains Why Brandin Cooks Play Wasn’t A Catch

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Saturday's Bills-Broncos playoff crippled was an absolute whirlwind, a existent thriller of a postseason title that ended pinch Denver eliminating Buffalo successful overtime, 33-30. But 1 play supra each others has lingered contempt nan craziness aft nan crippled successful which Bo Nix was revealed to person a surgery ankle and Josh Allen broke down crying astatine nan podium: nan OT conflict for possession betwixt Bills wideout Brandin Cooks and Broncos information Ja'Quan McMillian that ended successful a cardinal Denver interception.

In lawsuit you missed it, connected nan Bills’ first possession of overtime Allen heaved a heavy shot to Cooks. McMillian went up to title nan walk and some players ended up grappling for possession of nan shot connected nan ground. Once they landed, McMillian popped up pinch nan shot and nan referees connected nan section ruled it was an interception. Despite replay showing it wasn’t a clear and evident call, nan officials didn’t walk overmuch clip reviewing nan play and kept nan shot successful nan Broncos’ hands; they’d spell connected to triumph nan crippled and nan Bills ne'er saw nan shot again.

As 1 mightiness expect nan arguable ruling did not beryllium good connected nan Buffalo side. Coach Sean McDermott railed against nan determination successful frustration aft nan crippled and got connected nan telephone pinch a newsman to further rip nan call aft lead referee Carl Cheffers explained Cooks didn’t complete nan process of a catch earlier McMillian gained possession of nan ball, which meant it was an interception for Denver.

WOW!! Interception Josh Allen connected this crazy play pic.twitter.com/J7UyosDna5

— Rate nan Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) January 18, 2026

Discussion astir nan telephone leaked into Sunday, and nan NFL’s erstwhile VP of officiating (as good arsenic existent rules analyst) Walt Anderson appeared connected NFL GameDay to further explicate nan decision. He went in-depth connected why, exactly, nan play wasn’t ruled a drawback for Cooks.

“As nan receiver’s going to nan ground, arsenic soon arsenic he hits nan ground, nan shot is instantly loose,” Anderson said. “That would beryllium an incomplete walk if comes retired and hits nan ground. The reality present is, nan shot ne'er hits nan ground. The loose shot ends up instantly being successful power of nan protect player, who past rolls complete pinch nan shot and he maintains power of nan ball... That’s why connected nan section it was ruled arsenic an interception.

“In review, which, some nan replay charismatic astatine nan stadium and New York spent nan clip looking astatine it. What was nan telephone connected nan field? The shot was loose erstwhile he first deed nan ground. They confirmed that’s what happened. The shot ne'er deed nan ground. That’s why they were capable to corroborate nan telephone of an interception.”

Anderson was past pressed astir nan frame-by-frame slow-motion replay of nan drawback that showed Cooks hitting nan crushed earlier McMillian wrestled distant nan ball.

“He’s successful nan process of going to nan ground,” Anderson said. “He has to past nan ground. He must support power erstwhile he hits nan crushed here. The shot is instantly loose erstwhile he hits nan ground. By rule, it’s not a catch. The truth that nan shot didn’t deed nan ground, it stays live. It tin extremity up either being caught by a receiver, he tin scope up and drawback it, aliases successful this lawsuit it was nan defender who sewage power of nan ball.”

Catch aliases INT? Walt Anderson dives into nan officials' decisions past nighttime 👇 pic.twitter.com/7DhIHe9EPT

— NFL GameDay (@NFLGameDay) January 18, 2026

As is ever nan case, it’s a spot of a bummer that 1 of nan astir breathtaking games of nan twelvemonth is marred by an officiating contention of immoderate type. It was a awesome back-and-forth title but nan superior talking constituent a time later is nan Cooks call.

Regardless, nan Broncos will return nan triumph and are preparing in earnest for Jarrett Stidham to start successful spot of Nix adjacent week. The Bills person nary prime but to caput backmost to Buffalo and bespeak connected nan opportunity nan squad fto walk by this season.