The NFL has acknowledged a referee error in the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Minnesota Vikings. The background is a catch by Bills receiver Gabe Davis that was not within the rules.

Munich – The NFL has (once again) had to concede a wrong decision by its referees during a game.

This time it’s about a catch by Gabe Davis, wide receiver of the Buffalo Bills, which was ruled as caught in the game against the Minnesota Vikings, although the ball touched the ground during the catch before he had caught it safely.

It was a bad call, something the league now realises. NFL vice referee Walt Anderson admitted to a Pro Football Writers of America reporter that Davis’ catch should not have counted.

Replay official in the VIkings-Bills game fell asleep at the wheel. Can’t believe this Gabe Davis catch didn’t at least get reviewed Vikings Bills pic.twitter.com/hGXdHQrizN

– John Breech (@johnbreech) November 13, 2022

“A few plays later we were able to re-watch the play from different camera angles. It would have actually been changed to an incomplete pass because he no longer had control of the ball when it hit the ground and the ball was out of bounds as well,” Anderson said of the disputed scene. “Even if it’s quick and Buffalo rushes to the line of scrimmage on the next play, we should stop the play to make sure it’s a catch,” Anderson said.

With the score 27-30 in favour of the Bills and 11 seconds left in the game, Davis had failed to hold on to a deep pass from quarterback Josh Allen in compliance with the rules. The referees still flagged a caught ball, keeping the Bills’ play alive.

Vikings at Bills turns into overtime thriller

And the Bills were able to score again after the referees’ miscue: With five seconds left in regulation, Bills kicker Tyler Bass converted a field goal to tie the game 30-30. The game went into overtime.

In the end, the referees’ wrong decision did not help: After overtime, the Bills lost the game against the Minnesota Vikings with 30:33.