Yes that was a Hail Mary prayer that was answered. McVay's Rams blow leads so it was not shocking. I should have said once in OT they were fortunate not lucky.
NFL '26 Divisional Round Playoff Games thread (1/17-18)
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
They aren't saying it was shared possession--the ruling was no one had possession which appears correct.
The refs were no incompetent--it was reviewed as well-the expert on the broadcast said the same thing.
When you start saying the officials were "giving" the game to someone you lose any credibility
I was rooting for Buffalo--hell, I would have rooting for Buffalo against my Steelers if they played each other--but the refs had zero impact on that game. Buffalo lost and McDermott's awful coaching decisions are throughout the game is why he's fired.
By their actions they did seal McDermott's fate. Did they do it intentionally? Probably not but it still doesn't excuse their incompetence. More on McDermott below in third and fourth paragraph.
Yes, obviously they didn't think it was a shared possession. But it was at best if not possession by Cooks. That is where we differ and I differ from all their "experts". Neither of us will change our opinion. We can agree to disagree. I stated my opinion. I wanted Buffalo but am not a big fan of theirs.
That call goes Buffalo's way they win and McDermott has a job this week. They could have lost to NE and he probably would have been fired. My point is simply if that call goes the other way Buffalo wins barring a major choke job by their kicker.
And if Buffalo wins that game do you think McDermott is fired? No, he is not. I am not saying whether he coached a good game or bad game or an average game. I don't care. Heck I don't know much of anything about McDermott. I do know he is not fired if Buffalo wins that game and if that call goes Buffalo's way there is a high, high probability Buffalo wins it. That is the logic train, no denying it. So in this argument about McDermott, I am not commenting on if the call was right or not. I stated my opinion about that in the first paragraph. If the ref rules that was a catch then McDermott has a job this week. No denying that unless you are convinced their kicker misses a extra point like FG.
Buffalo probably wins if it's ruled a catch but they definitely win if they take a knee before the half...that decision got him fired.
To clarify, IF Buffalo won he is not getting fired. So if the catch was ruled a catch then McDermott would still have a job and the decision to not take a knee would not be an issue. I do think McDermott probably needed to win the AFC to keep his job and the way Buffalo kind of blows games they most likely lose to NE at NE and he gone at that point.
But the catch is never in play if he doesn't screw up before the end of the half. And yes he likely needed to win the AFC.
Yes but it was so again in that scenario where you keep everything as is until the catch then he still has a job. And yes if Allen doesn't fumble and other things as well things change. But just isolating to that play (all other things stay as they happened) it is interesting that if ruled a catch he still has a job.
Because the coach controlled that decision. He doesn't control the ruling of the catch. I'm not questioning that play call. Also, I think we agree he has a job today but still didn't another win because he doesn't put his team in the right position. It's part of the reason they blow so many leads.
The receiver has to complete the catch and he didn’t. It’s not like once he’s down it’s automatically a catch. If you jump to catch a ball and land on your back and the ball pops out, it’s incomplete. In this case it popped into the defenders hands and never touched the ground therefore INT.
New footage? That’s funny. And even if Bills fans think it was a bad call, it’s not even close to being one of the worst calls in NFL history. Not even in the top 1000.
That is what is so crazy about it. He could have made 20 horrible decisions in that game but then if he is still in position to win the game and gets the benefit of that call then he saves his job. Pegula said it today it is because they lost that game. He actually could have coached a great game but if they didn't win then he is fired.
Ultimately they needed to be at least making a Super Bowl appearance at this point especially with Josh Allen. They have been in the playoffs like 7 straight years yet never win the AFC. Need someone else to get them over the hump.
I'm done explaining my viewpoint. You think he bobbled it and it was a pick and I think otherwise as I have explained in detail in previous posts. Neither of us are changing positions. Time to move on.
McDermott will land on his feet.McDermott will take solace in the fact that it was all just a misunderstanding.
I don't think the Steelers will hire McDermott either but when I ask myself why not I got nothing. He has to be better than McCarthy. The only way hiring McCarthy could work in Pittsburgh would be if Rodgers moves on, however that plays out. Rodgers in Pittsburgh for another year would make for a disaster, whoever is the head coach, most likely, but with McCarthy it's guaranteed.
I have not heard McCarthy's name in this search but I have not followed it. Is he being considered?
I ruled out McDermott because I thought they wanted to go the way of an under 40 up and coming coordinator.
Yeah, go check the NFL Coaches Carousel thread. McCarthy is in play for Pittsburgh.