Sean McVay won't play 'victim card' after questionable pass interference call in Rams loss to Broncos: 'It is what it is'
Sean McVay is over the controversial pass interference call late in their loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday night. Playing "the victim card," the Los Angeles Rams head coach said, won't do any good.
Rams cornerback Josh Wallace appeared to intercept a pass from Broncos quarterback Bo Nix late on Sunday night in Denver. But Wallace was instead called for pass interference, which set up first-and-goal for the Broncos and eventually led to their go-ahead touchdown.
In real time, it looked as if Wallace committed the penalty. But a closer look undoubtedly put that call into question. Even NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay thought it shouldn't have been called.
NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay did not believe Rams CB Josh Wallace should have been flagged for pass interference, in what may have otherwise been an interception.
- Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 28, 2026
The Broncos went on to score what would serve as the game-winning TD. pic.twitter.com/A0YDJ8ZmZl
But a day later, McVay knows fighting about it won't do any good.
"[It] doesn't really matter," McVay said, via ESPN. "It is what it is. That was the call that was made and there was a lot of opportunities that we had to be able to close the door on that game. ... But I wouldn't have any additional coaching points for how Josh [Wallace] plays through the cycle of the snap. But I'm not going to make excuses either and we're not going to play the victim card."
The Rams were called for five penalties in the last two minutes of the game, which is tied for the most by any team in a game since 2000, according to ESPN. Had the penalty not been called, the Rams would have gotten the ball back at their own 8-yard line leading 26-23 with 69 seconds left in the contest.
While the Broncos had three timeouts left and could have gotten the ball back, the Rams would have absolutely been in a position to seal the game. The Rams had one final look, too, but Matthew Stafford was intercepted on the final play of the game.
"It's tough. But this is sports, you sign up for all of it," McVay said simply on Sunday night. "Love our group, just came up short. Give the Broncos credit, they found a way to get it done."
The Rams, now 1-2 on the season, will take on the Philadelphia Eagles next on Sunday.