The divisional round of the NFL playoffs brought a couple of controversial moments. The chatter about officiating grew louder with analysts and fans blasting referees by comparing previous calls and applying their own logic. However, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow took a blunt stance that came straight from the NFL rulebook. And his opinion may not sit well with the widespread sentiment against the officials. 

“The amount of ppl [people] that don’t understand what a catch is in the rule book flabbergasts me,” he wrote on X. “And it’s not the officials. The two plays yesterday were not difficult calls, and they got them both right.”

One of the questionable rulings he was referring to came during the Buffalo Bills‘ 33-30 loss to the Denver Broncos on Saturday. In overtime, QB Josh Allen connected with wide receiver Brandin Cooks on third-and-11. But he soon went to the ground with his knee touching the turf after Broncos defender Ja’Quan McMillan tackled him. While McMillan gained possession of the ball, and officials ruled it an interception, it appeared that Cooks maintained control of the ball.

The drive ended in a field goal, with the call playing a big role in the Bills’ loss to Denver. The other controversy erupted during the Los Angeles Rams’ 20-17 overtime win over the Chicago Bears. Early in the fourth quarter, when the score was 10-10, wide receiver Davante Adams went down with the ball. In no time, Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson ripped the ball away from him. But unlike the Bills’ play, the officials didn’t rule it as pass interference.

The Rams later scored a touchdown on that drive, giving them a 17-10 lead. NFL rules analyst and former referee Terry McAulay sided with Joe Burrow on the call, with QB Matthew Stafford joining him.

“He clearly completed the catch on this one,” McAulay said. “He has it long enough to perform an act common to the game, and then he goes to the ground, and his knee goes down prior to him losing control.”

The Rams’ win takes them to the NFC Championship against the Seattle Seahawks next week. Conversely, the Bills’ playoff journey ended in playoff heartbreak. The frustration over the play involving Cook and McMillan still lingered long after the game, with many analysts opposing the NFL ruling.

Unlike Joe Burrow, former NFL players call out the ruling 

After the Bills lost the playoffs for the seventh consecutive time, head coach Sean McDermott couldn’t make peace with what happened in overtime. Sitting in his locker room, he relayed the sequence again and again. According to him, wide receiver Brandin Cooks had clearly secured the ball while going down. And he didn’t hesitate to share his thoughts during the post-game conference.

“That play is not even close,” he told the press. “That’s a catch all the way … and nobody can convince me that that ball is not caught and in possession of Buffalo.”

Meanwhile, several former NFL players echoed the coach’s frustration. After all, the call directly affected the outcome of the game. Former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman supported his view. He admitted to never having seen such a play “be called anything but a catch.” Further, ex- quarterback Dan Orlovsky claimed the play should have been ruled “a catch every time.”

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Veteran offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse chimed in, stating the call should have been an incomplete pass at minimum. On the other hand, former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe sided with the officials. He highlighted a rule that states that a receiver must maintain control of the ball throughout. 

Before the Rams game, another similar moment involved the Houston Texans receiver Xavier Hutchinson. He lost the ball while going to the ground after a catch. His team ultimately lost 28-16 to the New England Patriots. The differing outcomes sparked frustration online, but Joe Burrow’s message ultimately defended the call.