Brandin Cooks vs. Davante Adams catch: Why Bills fans are upset over ruling in Rams-Bears game

Dan Treacy

•
Brandin Cooks vs. Davante Adams catch: Why Bills fans are upset over ruling in Rams-Bears game image

Even after a litany of turnovers, the play that turned Saturday's game between the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills was a controversial battle for the football between Brandin Cooks and Ja'Quan McMillian in overtime.

Had Cooks been ruled down with a completed catch, the Bills would have been set up in field goal range to win. Because Cooks was ruled to have not completed the catch. McMillian was awarded the interception, and Denver went down the field for the win.

On Sunday, Bills fans watched as the same scenario played out between the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears — or so they thought.

Here's a look at how the Cooks and Davante Adams plays were different in the eyes of the officials. 

MORE: Picks, predictions for conference championship games

Brandin Cooks vs. Davante Adams catch

Cooks was the first to grab the downfield pass from Josh Allen in overtime on Saturday, but he was stripped of the ball by McMillian as he went to the ground. While Cooks' knee was down while he still had the ball in his hands, officials ruled he did not complete the process of a catch and therefore never had possession.

Here's a look at the play:

On Sunday, a similar scenario played out when Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams had the ball stripped by Tyrique Stevenson in the fourth quarter. Adams' knee was already down when the ball was stripped, and the play was ruled a completed catch without a turnover.

Here is the play:

Bills fans, however, would point out that Cooks' knee was also down on the play that was not ruled a completed catch.

Here's what you need to know about the two controversial calls and the differences between the two plays.

MORE: How Caleb Williams' interceptions sunk Bears vs. Rams

Why was Brandin Cooks play ruled an interception?

Officials ruled that Cooks never completed the process of a catch on the play that resulted an an interception by McMillan.

On the play, Cooks simply didn't have control of the ball for very long. The veteran receiver did not take any steps with the ball or make a "football move," so he has to survive the ground to complete the catch. In the view of the officials, Cooks did not survive the ground because McMillan was already jarring the ball loose when he hit the ground.

That means a fumble was not a possibility on that play because Cooks never had possession, but an interception was the ball never hit the ground. 

MORE: Did Sean McVay, Ben Johnson shake hands after divisional round game?

Why was Davante Adams play ruled a catch?

So, what was different about Adams' catch? 

Officials ruled Adams completed the process of a catch. He possessed the ball for a longer period than Cooks and appeared to take steps as defenders swarmed him after catching the pass. After a couple of seconds, Adams was stripped of the ball, but only after his knee his the ground. 

That means, had the ball been stripped just before Adams' knee hit the ground, the play would have been a fumble because he had already gained possession. Because Adams was stripped after his knee hit the ground, he was already down by contact with a completed catch. 

Bills fans could argue Adams did not have possession of the ball long enough for a completed catch. That could be debated, but he certainly appeared to have control longer than Cooks did, and officials deemed that was enough to complete the process of a catch. 

Senior Content Producer

Editorial Team