Dissecting the Fallout From N.F.L. Playoffs’ Divisional Round Madness
The hurried handling of a pivotal interception underscored a decades-old officiating problem, a columnist for The Athletic writes.
| CARVIEW |
Select Language
HTTP/2 301
server: envoy
cache-control: public, max-age=900
location: https://www.nytimes.com/section/sports/ncaafootball
content-type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1
x-envoy-upstream-service-time: 58
content-encoding: gzip
x-envoy-decorator-operation: legacy-www.web-platforms-legacy-www.nyti.nyt.net:443/*
accept-ranges: bytes
date: Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:46:01 GMT
via: 1.1 varnish
x-served-by: cache-bom-vanm7210058-BOM
x-cache: MISS
x-cache-hits: 0
x-timer: S1768844761.091246,VS0,VE316
vary: Accept-Encoding
x-api-version: F-GL
set-cookie: nyt-gdpr=0; Expires=Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:46:01 GMT; Path=/; Domain=.nytimes.com
x-gdpr: 0
strict-transport-security: max-age=63072000; preload; includeSubdomains
HTTP/2 301
content-type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
x-envoy-upstream-service-time: 5
server: envoy
x-envoy-decorator-operation: vi.nyt.net:443/*
content-encoding: gzip
cache-control: s-maxage=3600,(null)
x-nyt-route: vi-collection
x-origin-time: 2026-01-19 17:46:01 UTC
fastly-restarts: 1
accept-ranges: bytes
age: 1537
date: Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:46:01 GMT
x-served-by: cache-lga21971-LGA, cache-bom-vanm7210038-BOM
x-cache: HIT, MISS
x-cache-hits: 4, 0
x-timer: S1768844761.472811,VS0,VE236
vary: Accept, Accept-Encoding, Fastly-SSL
set-cookie: nyt-gdpr=0; Expires=Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:46:01 GMT; Path=/; Domain=.nytimes.com
x-gdpr: 0
permissions-policy: browsing-topics=()
set-cookie: datadome=0; Domain=.nytimes.com; Path=/; Expires=Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT; SameSite=Lax; Secure
x-api-version: F-F-X
content-security-policy: upgrade-insecure-requests; default-src data: 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval' https: nytresource:; script-src data: 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval' https: blob: nytresource:; style-src data: 'unsafe-inline' https: nytresource:; img-src data: https: blob: android-webview-video-poster: nytresource:; font-src data: https: nytresource:; connect-src data: https: wss: blob: nytresource:; media-src data: https: blob: nytresource:; object-src https:; child-src https: data: blob: nytresource:; form-action https: nytimes: nytcooking: nytxwd:; report-uri https://csp.nytimes.com/report;
strict-transport-security: max-age=63072000; includeSubDomains; preload
access-control-expose-headers: X-Nyt-Mktg-Group, X-Nyt-Mktg-Group
x-nyt-mktg-group: group8
location: /section/sports
x-nyt-edge-cache: HIT-MISS
x-nyt-app-webview: 0
x-nyt-app-map: webview=false,preloaded=false,service-worker-enabled=false
access-control-allow-headers: traceparent, tracestate, X-B3-Sampled, X-B3-SpanId, X-B3-TraceId, x-datadog-origin, x-datadog-parent-id, x-datadog-sampling-priority, x-datadog-trace-id, x-nyt-entitlements, x-nyt-internal-meter-override, x-nyt-programming-abtest, traceparent, tracestate, X-B3-Sampled, X-B3-SpanId, X-B3-TraceId, x-datadog-origin, x-datadog-parent-id, x-datadog-sampling-priority, x-datadog-trace-id, x-nyt-entitlements, x-nyt-internal-meter-override, x-nyt-programming-abtest
content-length: 73
HTTP/2 200
x-b3-traceid: 295429bdc484241c
x-nyt-data-last-modified: Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:59:52 GMT
last-modified: Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:59:52 GMT
build-timestamp: 1768588655000
x-pagetype: vi-collection
x-xss-protection: 1; mode=block
x-content-type-options: nosniff
content-type: text/html; charset=utf-8
x-envoy-upstream-service-time: 301
server: envoy
x-envoy-decorator-operation: vi.nyt.net:443/*
content-encoding: gzip
cache-control: s-maxage=600,no-cache
x-nyt-route: vi-collection
x-origin-time: 2026-01-19 17:46:01 UTC
fastly-restarts: 1
accept-ranges: bytes
age: 143
date: Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:46:01 GMT
x-served-by: cache-lga21982-LGA, cache-bom-vanm7210038-BOM
x-cache: HIT, MISS
x-cache-hits: 5, 0
x-timer: S1768844762.723100,VS0,VE274
vary: x-statsig-assignments, Accept-Encoding, Fastly-SSL
set-cookie: nyt-a=HffAlkixnFTu85dC1mPpQX; Expires=Tue, 19 Jan 2027 17:46:01 GMT; Path=/; Domain=.nytimes.com; SameSite=none; Secure
set-cookie: nyt-gdpr=0; Expires=Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:46:01 GMT; Path=/; Domain=.nytimes.com
x-gdpr: 0
set-cookie: nyt-purr=cfhhpfhhhckfhufshgas2fdnd; Expires=Tue, 19 Jan 2027 17:46:01 GMT; Path=/; Domain=.nytimes.com; SameSite=Lax; Secure
permissions-policy: browsing-topics=()
set-cookie: datadome=0; Domain=.nytimes.com; Path=/; Expires=Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT; SameSite=Lax; Secure
x-api-version: F-F-VI
content-security-policy: upgrade-insecure-requests; default-src data: 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval' https: nytresource:; script-src data: 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval' https: blob: nytresource:; style-src data: 'unsafe-inline' https: nytresource:; img-src data: https: blob: android-webview-video-poster: nytresource:; font-src data: https: nytresource:; connect-src data: https: wss: blob: nytresource:; media-src data: https: blob: nytresource:; object-src https:; child-src https: data: blob: nytresource:; form-action https: nytimes: nytcooking: nytxwd:; report-uri https://csp.nytimes.com/report;
strict-transport-security: max-age=63072000; includeSubDomains; preload
access-control-expose-headers: X-Nyt-Mktg-Group, X-Nyt-Mktg-Group
x-nyt-mktg-group: group8
set-cookie: nyt-traceid=0000000000000000508a469cb240a470; Path=/; Domain=.nytimes.com; SameSite=none; Secure
x-nyt-edge-cache: HIT-MISS
x-nyt-app-webview: 0
x-nyt-app-map: webview=false,preloaded=false,service-worker-enabled=false
access-control-allow-headers: traceparent, tracestate, X-B3-Sampled, X-B3-SpanId, X-B3-TraceId, x-datadog-origin, x-datadog-parent-id, x-datadog-sampling-priority, x-datadog-trace-id, x-nyt-entitlements, x-nyt-internal-meter-override, x-nyt-programming-abtest, traceparent, tracestate, X-B3-Sampled, X-B3-SpanId, X-B3-TraceId, x-datadog-origin, x-datadog-parent-id, x-datadog-sampling-priority, x-datadog-trace-id, x-nyt-entitlements, x-nyt-internal-meter-override, x-nyt-programming-abtest
content-length: 91347
Sports - The New York Times
Highlights
CreditMatthew Stockman/Getty Images Only 4 N.F.L. Are Left Standing. Here Are Each Team’s Super Bowl Chances.
The Broncos face the Patriots in the A.F.C., while the Seahawks take on the Bears/Rams in the N.F.C.
CreditAdam Glanzman/Getty Images Josh Allen’s Tears Should Tell the Bills Everything: This Isn’t Working
For the seventh time, the quarterback failed to deliver the championship that a franchise, a city and a fan base so desperately craves.
CreditMatthew Stockman/Getty IMages The Bills Fire Coach Sean McDermott After 9 Seasons
Buffalo once again failed to advance to the Super Bowl with franchise quarterback Josh Allen.
CreditTimothy T Ludwig/Getty Images
Rams Survive Bears to Advance to Conference Championship
Los Angeles will face Seattle in the N.F.C. title game after an overtime win in frigid Chicago temperatures.
CreditMichael Reaves/Getty Images Trump Vows Executive Order to Shield Army-Navy Game
The president wants to protect the game’s exclusive broadcast window from the expanding College Football Playoff schedule.
CreditIshika Samant/Getty Images Why Does Indiana’s Quarterback Talk Like That? It’s All Part of the Plan.
In a world where athletes are trained to say as little as possible, Fernandzo Mendoza seems to always deliver something.
CreditStacy Revere/Getty Images Patriots Outlast Texans to Set Up A.F.C. Title Game vs. Broncos
New England forced five turnovers, including four first-half interceptions of C.J. Stroud.
CreditWinslow Townson/Getty Images Can Miami Shock Indiana? Our Experts Predict the Title Game.
The championship is favored to be a coronation of the Hoosiers’ dream season. But not everyone is convinced.
CreditSam Hodde/Getty Images
Advertisement
Sports From The New York Times
More in Sports From The New York Times ›Wilbur Wood, Ironman Knuckleballer for the White Sox, Is Dead at 84
He threw more innings in a season than any player since 1917. A three-time All-Star, he also had four 20-win seasons.
By Victor Mather
CreditAssociated Press At the Australian Open, These Players Represent Southeast Asia’s Potential
Alexandra Eala and Janice Tjen are part of a new wave of young, talented players from Southeast Asia, an area sparsely represented in professional tennis.
By Cindy Shmerler
CreditAchmad Ibrahim/Associated Press Jim Hartung, Gymnast Who Helped Deliver U.S. Gold, Dies at 65
In an upset victory over China at the 1984 Olympics, he and five others became the only American men ever to win the gold medal in the gymnastics team competition.
By Jeré Longman
CreditDavid Madison/Getty Images At Middlebury, She Hoped to Start Fresh. In Trump’s America, It Seemed Impossible.
Lia Smith was a senior at Middlebury College, a transgender woman and, for a time, an athlete on the school’s diving team. But she struggled to feel accepted, and in October, she took her own life.
By Juliet Macur
CreditJohn Tully for The New York Times Diane Crump, First Woman to Ride in Kentucky Derby, Dies at 77
She was the first professional female jockey to compete at a track in the United States where betting was legal, and notched up 228 career victories.
By Jeré Longman
CreditAssociated Press