Bills HC Sean McDermott doesn’t hold back taking shots at referees over controversial Ja’Quan McMillian INT in playoff loss

Sean McDermott, the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, expressed his frustration after his team’s 33-30 loss to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round on Sunday. McDermott believed that a crucial play should have been ruled in his team’s favor.

The pivotal moment came during overtime when Brandin Cooks seemed to have made a deep catch from quarterback Josh Allen. However, nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian contested the ball in midair, resulting in an interception. The Broncos capitalized on this turnover with a field goal from Wil Lutz to secure the win.

In a postgame press conference, McDermott did not hold back his emotions, stating, “It’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was. … I’m saying it because I’m standing up for Buffalo, damn it. I’m standing up for us. That’s not how it should go down.”

Before the interception, McDermott had also witnessed another controversial call when Mecole Hardman was deemed to have not caught a pass. Unable to challenge the ruling in overtime, McDermott called a timeout to try and slow down the process of upholding the call. Despite his efforts, the ruling stood, and the Broncos went on to secure the victory with a game-winning drive.

Reflecting on his decision to call a timeout, McDermott explained, “I called a timeout to try and get the process to slow down because it seemed like the process was not. It was a rather rapid unfolding of the review. … It would seem logical to me… that the head official would walk over and take a look at it just to make sure.”

The controversial calls and decisions during the game have sparked debate among fans and analysts alike. Many have criticized the officiating and questioned the fairness of the outcome. Despite the disappointment, McDermott and the Bills will have to regroup and focus on the next steps in their season.

As the NFL playoffs continue, the intensity and drama only promise to escalate. Fans can stay engaged and predict the outcomes of future games with the NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations. Stay tuned for more thrilling action and unpredictable moments in the world of football.

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Edited by Andre Castillo