The officiating crew for the Buffalo Bills’ wild-card playoff game against the Denver Broncos has a controversial history, with Bill Vinovich, a veteran official, assigned to lead the crew. Vinovich, who has officiated for 16 seasons, is no stranger to criticism, particularly for a series of high-profile calls—and no-calls—that have defined his career.
One of the most infamous moments involving Vinovich’s crew occurred during the 2018 NFC Championship game between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams. With less than two minutes remaining in regulation and the score tied at 20, Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw a pass to wide receiver Tommylee Lewis near the Rams’ 13-yard line. Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman appeared to commit blatant pass interference by hitting Lewis before the ball arrived. However, no flag was thrown.
The missed call forced the Saints to settle for a field goal, giving the Rams a chance to tie the game with a 57-yard field goal. The Rams eventually won in overtime, ending the Saints’ Super Bowl hopes.
After the game, Saints head coach Sean Payton, now leading the Broncos, revealed that the league admitted the error. “Just got off the phone with the league office. They blew the call,” Payton told reporters.
The controversy was so significant that it led to a temporary rule change in 2019, allowing coaches to challenge pass interference calls. However, the rule was short-lived and was not retained in subsequent seasons.
As the 2024 NFL playoffs begin, fans of both the Bills and Broncos will be watching closely to see how Vinovich’s crew handles the high-stakes matchup.
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