NFL Admits Referees Favored Broncos in Win Over the Rams

NFL Admits Josh Wallace Pass Interference Call Was Incorrect

The Los Angeles Rams received confirmation from the NFL that a controversial late-game penalty against Josh Wallace should not have been called in their 30-26 loss to the Denver Broncos. Rams coach Sean McVay said the league agreed that Wallace was incorrectly flagged for defensive pass interference on a fourth-quarter play that erased his interception and extended Denver’s game-winning drive.

“They agreed with me,” McVay said Wednesday.

The disputed sequence occurred with the Rams leading 26-23 and the Broncos facing third-and-6 in the red zone. Denver quarterback Bo Nix threw toward Pat Bryant near the right sideline, where Wallace appeared to make an interception. Officials then threw the flag, wiping out the turnover and giving Denver a fresh set of downs.

Penalty Changed the Final Minute of Rams-Broncos Game

Six plays after the penalty, Nix scored to give Denver a 30-26 lead with 47 seconds remaining. Los Angeles regained possession but could not produce a final scoring drive, allowing the Broncos to complete the comeback.

The controversy intensified after Bryant acknowledged that he had made the contact appear obvious enough to draw a flag.

“It was a little pass interference, I did sell it just enough to get the flag,” Bryant told CBS Colorado. “He definitely gave me a little nudge that I felt, I felt like I couldn’t get the ball so it was either the ball or the call and we ended up with the call.”

Asked whether drawing a penalty by selling contact is an established part of football, Bryant said:

“Oh, yeah, of course,” he said. “It’s something that a lot of people do in this league.”

Wallace viewed the play differently after the game, saying, “It was very frustrating,”

Sean McVay Says Rams Will Not Use Call as Excuse

Although the NFL’s admission gives the Rams some vindication, McVay has resisted allowing the officiating mistake to define the loss. “We’re not going to play the victim,” he said earlier in the week.

Los Angeles had several opportunities to control the game before the disputed call. The Rams surrendered a 16-0 halftime lead, committed additional costly penalties and allowed Denver to build momentum after Matthew Stafford threw a pick-six.

McVay said the most useful part of the league’s feedback is its potential to help coaches teach players and improve future preparation. “The goal is just to get good, consistent feedback,” he said. “The only thing that matters to me is how to educate my players.”

McVay also indicated that Wallace’s technique would not be changed because of the play. The penalty, however, had already altered the game’s decisive sequence.

The Broncos improved to 2-1, while the Rams fell to 1-2. The NFL’s admission cannot change the result, but it confirms that Los Angeles had legitimate grounds to question the penalty that helped determine the outcome.

Why This Matters

The league’s acknowledgment highlights how a single officiating decision can have an outsized effect in a close NFL game, particularly when it erases a turnover in the red zone during the final minutes. For the Rams, the feedback provides clarity for coaching and player education, but it does not remove the need to address the blown 16-point lead, other penalties and the momentum swing that followed Stafford’s interception return.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the NFL tell the Los Angeles Rams?

The NFL told Sean McVay and the Rams that Josh Wallace should not have been called for defensive pass interference on the late fourth-quarter play against the Denver Broncos.

How did the penalty affect the game?

The call erased Wallace’s interception and gave Denver a new set of downs. Six plays later, Bo Nix scored to put the Broncos ahead 30-26 with 47 seconds left.

What were the teams’ records after the game?

The Denver Broncos improved to 2-1, while the Los Angeles Rams dropped to 1-2.