Bills’ Game-Clinching Play Over Dolphins Sparks Controversy

The refs may have gotten this one wrong.

The final play of Sunday’s Bills–Dolphins wild-card game sparked a controversial reaction over whether or not Bills running back Devin Singletary passed the first-down marker on his game-clinching run.

The official call was that Singletary succeeded on his third-down run, but the play quickly went under review as the call was debated on social media.

The announcers on the CBS broadcast seemed to be surprised with the call, as Jim Nantz said it looked “a foot short” before the officials marked it as a first down. But the call stood, essentially ending the game as a 34–31 victory for the Bills, who will advance to the divisional round.

Did Devin Singletary get the first down? 🤔

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/YgsGftHcZU

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 15, 2023

A majority of the reaction on social media consisted of people thinking Singletary was short of the first down, meaning the Bills should’ve had to try to convert on fourth down, kick a 50-plus yard field goal or punt the ball back to the Dolphins with roughly 30 seconds left in the game. Some of the NFL world agreed with the officials, though.

Here’s some of the conflicting reaction from Twitter.

That’s not a first down

— Gump Cathcart (@bubbagumpino) January 15, 2023

Weak. Buffalo is the better team, but this is a weak call to end a playoff game. Who ruled it was a first down??? Wasn't the linesman on the near side. https://t.co/cp75WmnSC9

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) January 15, 2023

That was not a first down but at this point just ending the game is the merciful thing.

— Alicia de Artola Castillo (@PenguinOfTroy) January 15, 2023

Not that it matters. But that wasn't a first down.

— Nick Canepa (@sdutCanepa) January 15, 2023

That wasn’t even close to a first down.

— Peter Stringer (@peterstringer) January 15, 2023

There is zero chance this is overturned. First down. #MIAvsBUF

— Paul Dellegatto⚡️FOX (@PaulFox13) January 15, 2023

He got it. First down. Game should be over.

— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) January 15, 2023

Tough to argue forward progress when the player never reached the first down line 😭

— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) January 15, 2023

Singletary looked short of the first down but no one wanted to see Miami get the ball back and commit Delay of Game in the hurry-up.

— Field Gulls (@FieldGulls) January 15, 2023