The Buffalo Bills’ playoff exit against the Denver Broncos did not end quietly. It sparked a fresh debate over officiating, rule interpretation, and what really counts as a catch in the modern NFL. At the centre of the storm was a late interception ruling that many Bills fans felt cost them the game. But while the fanbase fumed, some of the league’s biggest names came out firmly in support of the officials including Joe Burrow and Travis Kelce.
A controversial call that changed the game
The flashpoint came late in the contest on a deep throw from Josh Allen to Brandin Cooks. Cooks appeared to make a stunning grab before Broncos defender Ja’Quan McMillian wrestled the ball away as both went to the ground.After a lengthy review, officials ruled that Cooks had not completed the process of the catch. The interception stood, and within minutes Denver marched down the field to set up the game-winning score.For many Bills fans, it felt like another season had ended on a single ruling. Clips of the play spread quickly across social media, with thousands questioning how the call could go against Buffalo in such a crucial moment.Amid the backlash, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow stepped in with a rare post on X, offering a firm defence of the officials.“The amount of ppl that don’t understand what a catch is in the rule book flabbergasts me,” Burrow wrote. “And it’s not the officials. The two plays yesterday were not difficult calls, and they got them both right.”It was Burrow’s first post on the platform in months, and his blunt tone immediately drew attention. While many Bills supporters disagreed, several players and analysts backed his interpretation of the rule.
Travis Kelce’s light-hearted reaction
Burrow’s post soon made its way to the “New Heights” podcast, hosted by Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce, with former tight end Greg Olsen also discussing the play.
Kelce’s reaction, however, focused less on the ruling and more on Burrow’s choice of words.“I love it. I don’t even care what he said to the world,” Kelce joked. “I’m just glad he used the word flabbergasted.”Olsen quickly joined in, laughing, “Flabbergasted. What a great word.”Behind the humour, both Kelce and Olsen agreed with Burrow’s view. Olsen explained that because Cooks was going to the ground, he had to complete the process of the catch, which he did not.For Buffalo, the explanation brought little comfort. The loss reopened old wounds, with fans recalling past playoff exits that hinged on controversial moments. Calls for rule clarity and consistency grew louder online.Still, the support from players like Burrow, Olsen and Kelce carried weight. Their message was clear: the rule may be frustrating, but it was applied correctly.As the playoffs move forward, debates over catches, control and survival are unlikely to fade. For now, one word from Joe Burrow and Travis Kelce’s amused reaction to it has become an unexpected footnote in another painful chapter of Bills playoff history.
