Bills’ Brandin Cooks on controversial OT interception: ‘At the end of the day, it was a catch’

It’s been four days since the controversial interception that helped the Denver Broncos eliminate the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional round. Nearly a week later, there’s still no doubt in Brandin Cooks’ mind that the wrong call was made on the field.

“At the end of the day, it was a catch,” Cooks said on “Good Morning Football” on Thursday. “Not just what it looked like, but what it felt like. You see examples throughout the league all year, in previous years and you’re like, ‘wait a minute, that was a catch.’ There’s no brainer that this was a catch. I think when you look back at it the time that was spent to review it wasn’t enough. Given the magnitude of that game and the situation, it’s a little disappointing. It really is.”

The Broncos would win the game in overtime 33-30 to set up an AFC championship date with the New England Patriots on Sunday.

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The postgame pool report with referee Carl Cheffers revealed what the officiating crew saw on the play.

“The receiver has to complete the process of a catch,” Cheffers said. “He was going to the ground as part of the process of the catch, and he lost possession of the ball when he hit the ground. The defender gained possession of it at that point. The defender is the one that completed the process of the catch, so the defender was awarded the ball.”

Cheffers was then asked if the ball hit the ground.

“No,” he said. “That was confirmed in the replay process. The interception was confirmed.”

Cooks said he didn’t think the play was reviewed long enough and disagreed with the assessment that he didn’t survive the ground with the ball.

“You hear that, but at the same time in that situation knee hit, shoulder hit, back hit, whatever the case may be, my hands never left that ball, right?,” Cooks said. “The other thing is the tie goes to the offense, but I really feel in my heart of hearts that I caught that ball. It doesn’t matter now what I think or what I know, we’re sitting here not playing. That’s why it’s going to sting for a minute.”

Cooks, who joined the Bills in November after being released by the New Orleans Saints after Week 11, said the feeling in the locker room after he signed in Buffalo was one of confidence and that “no question” it was a roster worthy of winning a Super Bowl.

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That roster will see plenty of changes for next season as head coach Sean McDermott was fired the next day; general manager Brandon Beane was given the title of president of football operations; and wide receiver Keon Coleman looks to be on the outs given owner Terry Pegula’s comments on Wednesday.

Cooks said he hasn’t been with the Bills long enough to understand everything around the organization. He did say he was treated well by Pegula and respects Beane for bringing him to Buffalo.

Though he’s been in Buffalo a short while, Cooks felt the passion around the city for the team.

“It comes down to the city wants a Super Bowl, the city wants answers as well,” Cooks said. “And they deserve it. They’re the best fans in the world.”