A call in New York ultimately decided the AFC divisional round matchup between the Broncos and the Bills. The Bo Nix-led Denver emerged victorious in overtime, but only after a controversial call. While the game was full of incredible moments, the biggest talking point was the interception call in overtime. Addressing the uproar caused by the decision, the NFL issued clarification from the league’s rules analyst, Walt Anderson, on NFL Game Day.

“As the receiver’s going to the ground, as soon as he hits the ground, the ball is immediately loose,” Anderson said. “That would be an incomplete pass if comes out and hits the ground. Here, the ball never hits the ground.”

The incident occurred as the Bills had the ball at their 36-yard line, facing third down with 11 yards to go. Quarterback Josh Allen threw a deep ball over to receiver Brandin Cooks as Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian was in coverage. Cooks made a leaping catch, but the ball ended up out of his hands to McMillian’s almost immediately after he landed on the ground.

After the game, Bills head coach Sean McDermott expressed confusion about why McMillian was awarded the ball instead of Cooks. McDermott was adamant that the receiver appeared, in his view, to have possession while forced down by the cornerback.

“It’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled,” McDermott continued. “In my eyes, it was [a catch by Cooks], yes. In my eyes, it was. But even if it wasn’t, OK. Let’s just say that, and I’m being objective. Even if it wasn’t, the players are owed, to me, ‘Hey, let’s stop it. Let’s slow it down.’ Let’s put the head referee and give him a chance to look at the monitor just to make sure. Just to make sure.”

Before this controversial call, the Mile High witnessed an incredible battle between Bo Nix and Josh Allen as the two shot-callers went blow for blow to push the game into overtime. Allen finished the game with 283 yards and three touchdowns, while Nix managed to put up 279 yards with three scores.

But unfortunately for the Broncos QB1, the 25-year-old suffered a broken bone in his right ankle before Wil Lutz’s game-winning field goal. Now with the AFC Championship game up next, head coach Sean Taylor issued an update on Bo Nix’s availability.

Sean Payton on Bo Nix’s ankle injury

After their thrilling 33-30 victory, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton returned to the podium after his initial post-game press conference to announce a crucial update about starting quarterback Bo Nix. The injury occurred on a designed run, one play before Nix threw a deep pass to Marvin Mims that drew a pass interference penalty, setting up Denver’s game-winning field goal.

“Not good news,” Payton told reporters who were still in the media room long after Payton’s initial presser ended. “On the second-to-last play in overtime, Bo fractured a bone in his right ankle. He’s scheduled to have surgery Tuesday of this week, which will put him out for the rest of the season.”

Now replacing Nix, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will start in the AFC Championship game next weekend. Stidham went 1-1 as a starter in 2023, and Denver fans will hope the 29-year-old continues this winning run and takes the Broncos to the Super Bowl.

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