The Buffalo Bills had themselves a wild first half against the Dolphins in Sunday’s AFC Wild Card round. After jumping out to a quick 17-point lead, it looked like the Bills were ready to run away with the game. But a Dolphins rally in the second quarter completely flipped the game and forced Sean McDermott into a potentially huge mistake.
With seven seconds to go in the second quarter, the Bills thought they had themselves a go-ahead touchdown thanks to an incredible one-handed effort from Stefon Diggs. The call on the field was incomplete, and replays at the stadium showed that Diggs got two feet down. But the play was not reviewed, and that was because Diggs clearly didn’t have full possession of the ball.
Diggs effort #Bills #NFL pic.twitter.com/YmylfBedyN
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) January 15, 2023
Yet, the Bills were convinced that the play deserved a review (it probably did, to be fair). And out of pure shock that play wasn’t stopped, McDermott called the final timeout to argue his case for a review.
But by doing so, he essentially forced his own team to kick a field goal rather than go for a quick touchdown. The Bills went into the locker room up three points, but fans were quick to notice the reactionary mistake from the Bills.
That timeout took away points.
This was how Twitter reacted
that's not getting overturned, nor should it, and now the bills have to kick because they burned the timeout
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) January 15, 2023
Why wouldn’t someone in McDermott’s ear be telling him it clearly isn’t a catch? Wasting a timeout may well have cost #Bills four points. They left a lot on the field in that half.
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 15, 2023
The Bills assumed that the refs would stop the game to replay. Except it wasn't close to a catch so they didn't. Which meant the Bills were about to get delay of game so they called timeout then started complaining that they didn't reset the play clock for some reason.
— Vishnu Parasuraman (@vrp2003) January 15, 2023
Boy, using that timeout might have cost the Bills one more end zone shot?
— Anthony Reinhard (@reinhardNFL) January 15, 2023
Bills Jumbotron operator just cost them a timeout and maybe 4 points. Wow.
— Columnist, Phins com (@PhinsChris) January 15, 2023
Horrible timeout from McDermott
— Air Raid | Buffalo (@TheBillsGuys) January 15, 2023
That was obviously not a TD, and McDermott burning a timeout there is awful management. The Bills are doing a lot of the little things wrong today.
— Matt St. Jean (@mattstdream) January 15, 2023
Not a good timeout by the Bills. Diggs did not catch the ball and did not deserve a review. Now the Bills have no timeouts with :07 left in the half. Almost have to go for a FG now because you wasted the timeout
— King of DC Sports (@dcsportsking) January 15, 2023
It's not a touchdown. Where is Bills coach that's watching replay telling head coach it's not a catch, so he doesn't burn the last timeout
— Jim Kaufman (@Jim_Kaufman) January 15, 2023
Someone really should have stopped McDermott from using a timeout there.
