Joe Burrow breaks two-year social media silence to sound off on NFL fans criticizing officials

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Joe Burrow breaks two-year social media silence to sound off on NFL fans criticizing officials

Lauren Campbell · MassLive

Tue, Jan 20, 2026 ·

2 min read

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Joe Burrow was silent on social media for nearly two years. But the discourse around two controversial calls in the division games over the weekend was enough to bring him back to the internet.

“The amount of ppl that don’t understand what a catch is in the rule book flabbergasts me,” the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback posted . “And it’s not the officials. The two plays (Sunday) were not difficult calls, and they got them both right.”

It’s unclear which calls exactly Burrow was referring to, but it’s possible it’s about the Broncos ’ controversial interception in overtime that ultimately led to the win.

On third-and-11 from the Bills’ 36-yard line, Josh Allen threw a deep ball to Brandin Cooks , who looked to have hauled in the pass. Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian came up with the ball after the two rolled around on the field, though, and the officials ruled it was an interception.

You can view the play here

Sean McDermott, who was fired by the Bills on Monday, was furious about the call after the game.

“It’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled,” he said . “And if it is ruled that way, then why wasn’t it slowed down just to make sure that we have this right. That would have made a lot of sense to me — to make sure we have this thing right. Because that’s a pivotal play in the game. We (would have had) the ball at the 20, maybe kicking a game-winning field goal right there.

“That’s too big of a play, in my estimation, too big of a play in a play that decided the game, potentially as well, to not even slow it down,” he added . “That’s why I had to call the timeout. It’s not what I wanted to do, but I had to do it in order to make sure that I understood what was going on and that they did take a look at it.”

During the Rams-Bears game, star wideout Davante Adams appeared to be intercepted, but a review determined it was a catch, which set up the go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown.

You can view the play here

The Rams beat the Bears in overtime.

Both players were similar in nature.

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