Furious Sean McDermott rips into NFL officials after overtime loss to Broncos leaves Josh Allen in tears

Jan 18, 2026 - 10:00

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott ripped NFL officials after suffering a dramatic loss to the Denver Broncos.

He questioned a controversial call that came in overtime of the AFC divisional round game, when wide receiver Brandin Cooks appeared to have a catch that would have put the Bills in range for a winning field goal.

Ja'quan McMillian #29 of the Denver Broncos intercepts a pass intended for Brandin Cooks #18 of the Buffalo Bills during overtime in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Empower Field At Mile High on January 17, 2026 — The Bills were denied a game-winning catch when Cooks and McMillian battled in OT

Ja'quan McMillian #29 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after intercepting a pass intended for Brandin Cooks #18 of the Buffalo Bills during overtime in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Empower Field At Mile High on January 17, 2026 — Officials ruled McMillian made an interception on the pivotal play

Reigning MVP Josh Allen launched the ball downfield on third-and-11 from Buffalo’s 36-yard line, and while Cooks initially came down with it and appeared to have a knee on the turf, Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian took the ball as they rolled away.

The play was ruled an interception, and instead of the Bills kicking a potential game-winner at Mile High, Denver took over at their 20-yard line.

Quarterback Bo Nix then lead his team downfield, and they secured a 33-30 win in a game viewers deemed CBS analyst Tony Romo ‘insufferable’, to advance to the AFC Championship with a field goal of their own from the 8-yard line.

Sean McDermott tears into NFL officials after playoff defeat

Postgame, as he reflected on a crushing NFL Playoffs defeat, McDermott hit out at the ‘pivotal’ call.

“It’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled,” he told reporters.

“If it is ruled that way, then why wasn’t it slowed down just to make sure that we have this right?

“That would have made a lot of sense to me, because that’s a pivotal play in the game.

“We’d have the ball at the 20 and maybe kicking a game-winning field goal right there. So I’ll just leave it at that.”

McDermott then claimed he was standing up for all associated with the Bills by questioning the call.

He continued: “I’m saying it because I’m standing up for Buffalo, dammit.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott looks on in the first half during the AFC Divisional Round game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on January 17, 2026 — McDermott was left furious by the OT call that gave the Broncos possession

“I’m standing up for us, because what went on is not how it should go down, in my estimation.

“These guys spend three hours out there, playing football and pouring their guts out… that’s why I’m bothered.”

McDermott later got even sharper with his criticism — of both the call and lack of review — when speaking to reporters from his locker on Saturday evening.

“That play is not even close, that’s a catch all the way,” he said.

“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, you know?”

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Josh Allen (17) of the Buffalo Bills walks on the field after the Denver Broncos' 33-30 overtime win at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, January 17, 2026 — Allen and the Bill were beaten 33-30 in heartbreaking fashion

The Bills HC, of course, wasn’t the only one frustrated postgame.

Bills star loses it in tunnel after defeat to Broncos as Josh Allen breaks down

Joey Bosa summed up how all of Buffalo felt on Saturday night, without using a single word.

In a viral video shared by James Palmer of The Athletic and Bleacher Report, the defensive end was seen walking off the field, before launching his helmet at the wall of the Broncos tunnel.

He then continued to the locker room, as a Bills staffer picked up his helmet and followed the team away. In the hours since it was shared online, the video has been seen more than two million times.

Bills star Joey Bosa launches his helmet at the wall after a divisional round defeat to the Denver Broncos — Bosa was furious postgame and launched his helmet at the tunnel wall

Star quarterback Allen, meanwhile, teared up in his press conference as he shouldered much of the blame himself.

“It’s extremely difficult,” he said of the loss.

“I feel like I let my teammates down tonight.”

The frustration for the Bills was clear to see, and runs through McDermott, Bosa, Allen and probably anybody else associated with the franchise.

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Buffalo will now have to watch from home as the rest of the road to Super Bowl LX shakes out without them.

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