HC Sean McDermott Furious at Officials, Accuses Referees of Favoring Patriots in Controversial Bills Loss

HC Sean McDermott Furious at Officials, Accuses Referees of Favoring Patriots in Controversial Bills Loss

Buffalo, NY — The matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium ended with a narrow 23-20 victory for the Patriots, but the real story came not from the final score — it came from the controversy surrounding the officiating crew.

The drama unfolded in the fourth quarter when Mack Hollins, wide receiver for the Patriots, delivered a blatantly aggressive hit on Bills rookie safety Cole Bishop. The collision left Bishop writhing in pain on the turf, and fans immediately erupted, demanding Hollins be ejected. Instead, officials issued only a mild warning, allowing him to stay in the game — a decision that sparked outrage across the Bills sideline.

After the game, Bills head coach Sean McDermott didn’t hold back during his postgame press conference, accusing the referees of bias and poor judgment that he believes directly impacted the game’s outcome.

“It was clear the Patriots were given special treatment by the referees. There were too many plays that should’ve been flagged, yet they turned a blind eye. I can’t tell if it was incompetence or something more deliberate. The only way to stop the Bills’ winning streak, it seems, was through interference from the outside.”

Analysts reviewing the incident agreed that Hollins’ hit could easily have been ruled unsportsmanlike conduct or targeting, both of which typically result in an immediate ejection. Instead, the officiating crew opted to keep play moving, a choice that many believe shifted momentum in the Patriots’ favor.

The Buffalo media and several fan communities have since voiced their frustration, arguing that New England benefited from multiple questionable no-calls, including late whistles and ignored penalties that appeared obvious on replay.

The incident has reignited the debate over officiating consistency in the NFL, particularly in high-stakes divisional matchups. While the Patriots have chosen to remain silent on the issue, the league has yet to issue a statement regarding McDermott’s comments.

The 23-20 loss might look like just another number in the standings, but for the Bills and their fans, it feels far deeper — a defeat marred not by execution, but by questions of fairness and integrity.