Tre’Davious White doesn’t think very highly of NFL officials.
He was so furious over the pass interference call against him Saturday that set up the Broncos’ game-winning field goal in overtime that he slammed his helmet right in front of line judge Rusty Baynes after an animated discussion, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct flag.
While White was calmer speaking with reporters after Buffalo’s 33-30 loss, he did have a pointed message for the refs.
“Referees are human and people make mistakes, I just think it should be up to the players to decide the game,” White said in the visitors’ locker room. “When the game is fought so hard and comes down to the wire, plays like that, that’s a professional bang-bang play. As a defensive back, that’s what you want, take the guy to the ground and finish the play. Referees, they just don’t know ball.”
White, 31, did grab Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr.’s left arm before Mims attempted to catch the pass from Bo Nix.
The 30-yard penalty put the Broncos at the Bills’ 8-yard line, and two plays later, Wil Lutz kicked a 23-yard field goal to end the game and send Buffalo home early once again.
“I thought that I didn’t interfere with the guy, when the ball got there I swiped through, knocked the ball down, then fell on top of him,” said White, a two-time Pro Bowler. “I just think the crowd probably played a big-time factor.”
Two plays earlier, a pass interference call against the Bills’ Taron Johnson moved the Broncos up 17 yards to the Bills’ 36-yard line.
Referee Carl Cheffers told a pool reporter after the game that White committed “early contact and an arm grab that materially restricted the receiver.”
There was also a controversial interception call in overtime in which Broncos corner Ja’Quan McMillian ripped the ball away from Bills receiver Brandin Cooks as the two were falling to the ground.
Bills coach Sean McDermott was incensed about the call after the game
This marks the sixth straight year the Bills won at least one playoff game but were eliminated before the Super Bowl.
