Refs blew 2 massive calls that could’ve killed Vikings in Buffalo

While the Minnesota Vikings emerged victorious from Buffalo Sunday, it didn’t come without the refs blowing some big calls.

We know the Vikings won, so why complain? Given that it was impossible to believe that the Vikings would lose up until Patrick Peterson’s intercept, it is only fair to examine some of the officiating.

Chief in the fourth quarter was Gabe Davis’ “catch”.

With the Vikings ahead 30-27 after the defense recovered Josh Allen’s fumble in the end zone, Allen began leading Buffalo’s march down the field when on 2nd-and-2 from their own 40 he connected with Davis for a 20-yard catch. Despite it being a sideline catch, with Davis out of bounds at the end, neither the refs or replay officials stopped play to review the play. Kevin O’Connell was limited to throwing a challenge flag because the game was only two minutes long.

“It was right there in front of me. I didn’t think that was a catch. That would mean that something must be either from the top or possibly from New York. We didn’t get any clarification. O’Connell confirmed that he had asked.

NFL Senior VP of Officiating Walt Anderson confirmed after the game that replay officials should’ve stopped the game and that had the play been reviewed, it would’ve been overturned to an incomplete pass. In overtime, the Vikings moved down to the Bills’ 2-yard line and had a one-and-goal when Dalvin cook was stuffed for a 2-yard loss. Buffalo had 12 players on the field and the refs never noticed.

A penalty there would have put the ball at 1-yard. Instead, Cook was stuffed and Kirk Cousins was sacked for a 10-yard loss on the next play and Minnesota wound up settling for a field goal. If either of these plays were called correctly, Minnesota might not have to go to overtime as hard as they did.

Related: Jefferson amazed by own catch, now thinking Super Bowl

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