The Vikings and Bills capped off one of the wilder finishes in the NFL’s recent memory on Sunday. Justin Jefferson made one of the greatest catches you’ll ever see, Josh Allen fumbled the ball from his own end line, and an instant classic became an instant overtime classic with the two teams knotted up at the end of regulation.
But as Buffalo and Minnesota squared off in the extra stanza, it appeared that officials missed a key, potentially game-changing penalty. As the Vikings threatened to score and leave Orchard Park with a win, the Bills had an extra-man advantage. That is, they had 12 men on the field … which isn’t allowed. (Note: This wasn’t the only apparently huge missed call by the officials that went in the Bills’ favor.)
Dalvin Cook would be stuffed on a short run, and Minnesota would eventually have to settle for a field goal.
As Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said last night, the Bills had 12 players on the field when they stopped Dalvin Cook for a 3-yard loss in OT yesterday. O'Connell did say: "I know it's moving pretty fast out there sometimes." pic.twitter.com/5Cc4sDNN7r
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) November 14, 2022
I know it’s hard to see at first glance, but an extra Buffalo defensive lineman is bunched in there near the top!
The NFL sure is fortunate the Vikings’ defense held together after getting the eventual game-winning field goal on this possession. Otherwise, this officiating blunder would be getting ripped a lot more right now.
NFL fans couldn't believe the Bills weren't called for a penalty after having 12 men on the field
Not only did Bills not get proper booth review on a would be drop from Gabe Davis in the final seconds, the refs completely missed a 12 man on the field call on the play they stuffed the Vikings on 1st down in overtime.
Vikings truly beat both the Bills AND refs – legitimately. pic.twitter.com/j8l5IURuBU
— Ghost Of Adam Gase ➐ (@GhostOfAdamGase) November 14, 2022
Interesting, Bills got away with 12 men on defense on one of the biggest moments of the game https://t.co/zrSFzX2IyL
— Brian (@Bmore_Sports8) November 14, 2022
As @SeifertESPN wrote about today, the Bills did have 12 men on the field for that first-and-goal snap in OT. Wasn't even one of those situations where they're trying to run a guy off the field. Not a banner day for this officiating crew. https://t.co/8ZG0lcFpII pic.twitter.com/SjiXD2ubc6
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) November 14, 2022
Hilarious. https://t.co/m3wqhkpD0A
— Mike Danger (@akaMikeDanger) November 14, 2022
At this moment the Bills crowd became the 13th man https://t.co/nTADiQCHL8
— Real Super Dave (@SuperStatsDave) November 14, 2022
Officiating has been horrendous this year https://t.co/Bh12GCmWiE
— Garvey (@6arvey) November 14, 2022
This would have been so hard to see Monday morning after a loss. https://t.co/jv0Iyczpzd
— Steven Handt (@Stevohandt15) November 14, 2022
That crew had a rough time of it late. https://t.co/ob4EMjVLF6
— John McMullen (@JFMcMullen) November 14, 2022
