It would have been hard to imagine that the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Bears would be a defensive clinic, with both teams struggling to get to 20 points in the game. However, that’s exactly the kind of games fans in Soldier Field got, as they went through a complete drought in the second half.
However, the tides started turning in the fourth quarter thanks to a systematic 14-play drive that gave the Rams a 17-10 lead. But controversy reigned supreme on that drive as well, when a catch by Davante Adams followed virtually the same sequence of events as the highly controversial overtime interception in the Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos game.
Davante Adams’ Catch Draws Back Attention to Bills-Broncos Interception
In a classic that went to overtime, the Bills and Broncos were tied at 30 apiece with a shot at the AFC Championship game on the line. But with the ball in his hands, Josh Allen tried to attempt a deep completion to Brandin Cooks to essentially ice the game.
But as he made the catch, the ball was stripped from him and ruled an interception, allowing Denver to march down the field and win the game. However, Cooks caught the ball and had fallen to the ground before the ball was ripped from his hands.
As a result, many believed the play should have been called dead immediately. It became a topic of great interest because it effectively ended the Bills’ game. However, those same scars were reopened less than 48 hours later.
Trying to move the ball down the field, Matthew Stafford connected with Adams on his first reception of the night. Taking control of the ball, Adams landed on his feet before his knee touched the ground.
As a result, it was ruled a catch and the play was called dead, removing the interception for Chicago. However, fans were unwilling to compromise, believing that Buffalo had been screwed out of their position by the inconsistent officiating.
As YouTuber Mikerophone wrote, “This catch by Davante Adams was ruled complete in the Rams – Bears game. This SAME PLAY was ruled an interception in the Bills – Broncos game. These NFL Refs are so inconsistent.”
This catch by Davante Adams was ruled complete in the Rams – Bears game…
This SAME PLAY was ruled an interception in the Bills – Broncos game… 🥶
These NFL Refs are so inconsistent…
— Mikerophone (@MikerophoneNFL) January 19, 2026
While clearly different in execution, which affected how the two plays were called, the similarities between the two pivotal, game-changing moments were hard to ignore. Others were quick to point out the misery of Buffalo fans.
Ummm … Bills fans?pic.twitter.com/1seGcg1BPm
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) January 19, 2026
However, some were ready to acknowledge the difference between the two plays. Nick Wright of First Things First, even as a Bills fan in that game, wrote, “That Davante catch actually shows the ridiculousness in folks acting like Cooks ever actually caught the ball last night.”
clear catch
…right Bills fans? pic.twitter.com/PpaEb1USBz
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 19, 2026
Going a step further, he added, “The Cooks ‘catch’ was nothing like Davante’s catch, most notably because Cooks never actually caught it.” However, others, like Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, didn’t take the ruling too quietly.
Bills fans seeing that Davante Adams catch… pic.twitter.com/T7AfLXwHTN
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 19, 2026
Instead, he was quick to throw shade at the ruling the previous night, claiming, “I think Davante Adams had that and was down. But after yesterday, who the hell knows?”
Following that catch, Los Angeles was able to march the ball down the field to get the touchdown, before a miraculous throw-of-the-year contender from Caleb Williams sent the game to overtime.
In the grand scheme of things, the play may have been little more than a footnote in this encounter. But that didn’t stop fans from seeing the similarities to the interception against Buffalo.
