Ref Carl Cheffers explains controversial Bills call on catch-turned-interception vs. Broncos

Billy Heyen

Ref Carl Cheffers explains controversial Bills call on catch-turned-interception vs. Broncos image

It'll likely be tough for Buffalo Bills fans to ever see what Brandin Cooks did in overtime on Saturday night as anything but a catch.

But the officials on the field, led by head referee Carl Cheffers, ruled it an interception for Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillan.

Instead of the Bills being in chip-shot range to win the game in OT, the Broncos had the ball, and they drove and kicked their own winning field goal.

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It brought out the NFL's classic nightmare question, "What is a catch?"

Still, no one really knows.

After the game, Cheffers explained it this way to pool reporter Jeff Legwold:

"The receiver has to complete the process of a catch. He was going to the ground as part of the process of the catch and he lost possession of the ball when he hit the ground. The defender gained possession of it at that point. The defender is the one that completed the process of the catch, so the defender was awarded the ball."

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Cheffers went on to clarify that during the replay process, it was confirmed that the bill didn't hit the ground, and it was also officially confirmed as an interception.

After the game, Bills head coach Sean McDermott was frustrated both because he didn't agree with the call, but also because he felt the replay review had taken place much too quickly.

In the end, Buffalo couldn't do anything about it, and now the Bills' season is over. It was the fifth of five turnovers, so it wasn't the only culprit, but it sure still hurt.

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Contributing Writer