New York Giants tight end Darren Waller. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Bills beat Giants after controversial final play in end zone

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 10/16/23

The Buffalo Bills beat the New York Giants 14-9 on “Sunday Night Football” following a controversial final play in the end zone at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.

After the Bills failed to connect on a third-down pass play at the Giants’ 36 that would have iced the game, the Giants got the ball back at New York’s 43 with 1:24 left. The Giants marched to the Buffalo 9 with nine seconds left.

A pass interference call on the Bills gave the Giants an untimed down from the 1. Just as they had on the previous play which resulted in the pass interference call, the Giants threw into the end zone for Waller. Taron Johnson was all over the Giants tight end and appeared to commit a holding penalty, but no infraction was called.

NBC’s crew later talked about the play and debated whether pass interference should have been called for a second time in a row.

Should the Bills have been called for holding on the last play (a pass in the end zone to Giants TE Darren Waller)?

NBC #SNF rules analyst Terry McAulay talks it over with Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth. pic.twitter.com/gDq0cFH8tg

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 16, 2023

The back judge determined Waller was not materially prevented by Johnson’s contact from making the catch. NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth (and probably every Giants fan) felt otherwise.

The result was the Bills barely squeaking out a 14-9 win over a 1-5 Giants team.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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