The Buffalo Bills suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round of the playoffs last weekend. After the game, general manager Brandon Beane received a promotion, and head coach Sean McDermott was fired.
On Wednesday, Beane and team owner Terry Pegula held a press conference talking about the changes. Pegula, however, also took the opportunity to blame the NFL refs after a controversial call in overtime.
Terry Pegula Blasts Officials for Controversial Overtime Call
The Bills and Broncos were locked in a tight game on Saturday, and it went to overtime tied at 30. The Broncos got the ball first but were unable to do anything and punted it back to the Bills. The Bills started deep in their own territory, but then Josh Allen launched a downfield pass for Brandin Cooks.
At first glance, it looked like Cooks came down with it, and then it was ripped away by Ja’Quan McMillian. However, the officials ruled it an interception, giving Denver possession. The Broncos went on to connect on a field goal, winning 33-30Â and ending the Bills’ season prematurely once again.
The call has received plenty of criticism, including from Pegula himself. In Wednesday’s presser, Beane was asked what led to the team falling short of their ultimate goal again.
Before Beane had a chance to answer, Pegula interjected “a bad call.”
Holy cow… #Bills GM Brandon Beane was being asked about the team falling short…
Owner Terry Pegula jumps in “A BAD CALL.” https://t.co/02FUJWJmaz pic.twitter.com/zoT1Fy0h2i
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 21, 2026
If the call was instead that Cooks caught it, the Bills almost assuredly would have won the game. They would’ve been deep in Broncos territory, needing just a field goal to win.
Pegula also made it known right after the game that he was unhappy with the call. The owner apparently went to Allen and told him, “That was a catch!”
#Bills owner Terry Pegula said he went to Josh Allen — who was crying — in the locker room after the loss to the Broncos.
Pegula told him, “That was a catch!”
Allen didn’t acknowledge him. “He gave everything he had to win that game.” https://t.co/9UBXSsdhBj pic.twitter.com/ypsW4IeoVV
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 21, 2026
The owner explained that Allen was so upset, he didn’t even acknowledge him.
“He gave everything he had to win that game,” Pegula said of Allen.
Bills Hope New Head Coach Gets Team Over Hump
McDermott was the head coach of the Bills for nine seasons, and that stretch will go down as one of the most successful in the history of the Bills.
However, while McDermott led the Bills to two conference championship games, the team never appeared in the Super Bowl. Ultimately, this lack of ultimate success led to McDermott’s undoing, and the hope is that the next head coach helps the team over the hump.
It will likely be appealing to coach Allen, who’s one of the best passers in the league. PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metric gave Allen a 90.0 grade in 2025, which ranked third in the league. However, adding weapons around Allen needs to be a priority if the team really wants to win a Super Bowl.
