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Cheffers Defends OT Interception Sending Broncos to AFC Title Game as Bills Question Replay

League replay confirmed the call, prompting Buffalo to seek answers after no full on-field review was noted.

Overview

  • On third-and-11 in overtime, Ja'Quan McMillian was ruled to have intercepted Josh Allen’s deep pass to Brandin Cooks, giving Denver the ball at its 20 with 7:46 left.
  • Carl Cheffers said Cooks did not complete the process of a catch, the defender did, and replay confirmed the ruling with the ball never touching the ground.
  • The NFL’s official game book does not record a full review of the play, indicating an expedited confirmation despite the high-leverage situation.
  • With coach challenges unavailable in overtime, Sean McDermott called a timeout to slow the process, later saying the head referee should have viewed the monitor and that Buffalo deserves an explanation.
  • On the ensuing drive, officials called two defensive pass interference penalties on the Bills before Wil Lutz’s winner, and analysts noted inconsistency with a Week 14 replay standard cited by the league.