Skip to main content
Join Now

NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore reacts to controversial Josh Allen OT interception

Danby: Daniel Hager01/18/26DanielHagerOn3

The Denver Broncos held off the Buffalo Bills 33-30 Saturday night in the AFC Divisional Round, earning the right to host next week’s AFC Championship Game at home against the winner of the Houston Texans/New England Patriots.

Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian was pivotal in the win, fighting off Buffalo wide receiver Brandin Cooks for an interception in overtime. It originally looked like Cooks came up with the catch, but McMillian held onto the 50/50 ball and rolled over with it, earning the interception.

As the referees reviewed the play, CBS Sports’ rules analyst Gene Steratore agreed that it was an interception. He was right, and the interception kickstarted Denver’s game-winning drive.

“This is really close,” Steratore said. “I’m not sure that (Brandin) Cooks has possession coming to the ground there to say that it would be simultaneous. It feels to me like Cooks doesn’t have firm possession of the football, and they’re down by contact.”

Following McMillian’s interception, Denver took over on its own 20-yard line and surpassed midfield on a 24-yard pass from Bo Nix to rookie running back RJ Harvey. The Broncos then drew two controversial pass interference calls on Buffalo, putting them at the Bills five-yard line. This set up for a 23-yard Will Lutz chip-shot field goal, which cemented the postseason win.

The Denver Broncos will now head to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 2015, when they knocked off the New England Patriots 20-18 and sent Hall of Famer Peyton Manning off in style with a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

Meanwhile, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills fell to 0-3 in overtime postseason games. Allen passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns, but threw two costly interceptions.

“We played a really good football team,” Nix said postgame. “They played really well tonight. They gave us their best shot on a short week after a tough game last week. Hats off to them, but we just found a way to win again. Our defense made stops. I’m just proud of our guys, and I’m proud of this organization and the way we compete. The way we fight. We’re just never out of it, and I think that’s just our character. It wasn’t always pretty. We had a good lead and they came back and it wasn’t looking good, but in the fourth quarter and overtime, we found a way to win.”

The AFC Championship Game is scheduled for Jan. 25 and will feature Denver against either the New England Patriots or the Houston Texans.