Pass Interference Call on Josh Wallace Sparks Broncos-Rams Controversy A controversial pass interference penalty on Rams cornerback Josh Wallace erased an interception and helped the Broncos rally past Los Angeles on Sept. 28, 2026. A controversial defensive pass interference penalty on Los Angeles Rams cornerback Josh Wallace wiped out a late interception and helped the Denver Broncos escape with a 26-23 victory on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Denver. The call came with Denver trailing 26-23 and facing third-and-six from the Rams 11-yard line with 1:15 remaining. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix targeted wide receiver Pat Bryant near the right sideline, and Wallace cut inside the receiver, grabbed the football with one arm and got a knee down for what appeared to be his second interception of the night. Penalty Erases Late InterceptionInstead of a turnover, a flag for defensive pass interference gave Denver a fresh set of downs at the five-yard line. Replays appeared to show Bryant grabbing Wallace and pulling the cornerback toward him as the ball arrived. Some observers argued the contact could have been offensive pass interference rather than a defensive infraction.NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay said during the broadcast that he did not see the defender do anything that significantly hindered the receiver, noting that Bryant appeared to pull Wallace toward him. McAulay believed Wallace should not have been flagged on a play that may have otherwise been an interception.Analysts Question Call and OfficiatingThe penalty quickly became the subject of intense debate on social media and among NFL analysts. NFL reporter Dov Kleiman wrote on X that he did not understand how the play was pass interference on the Rams, claiming Denver had been gifted the call and calling the game rigged.One user wrote in all caps, congratulating NFL referee Bill Vinovich and the Broncos on the win over the Rams, sarcastically praising what the user called a star performance by the officiating crew. New York Post personality Adam Schein did not need a replay booth or a rulebook to make his view clear, writing that it was a terrible and awful call, that McAulay was right, that the play was an interception and that the Rams got robbed in an easy and obvious manner.Calling the game rigged goes too far. A controversial penalty, even one this consequential, is not evidence of a grand NFL conspiracy. There is a compelling case that the call was incorrect, but that does not make it the product of a deliberate scheme.Game Context and Rams CollapseHad Wallace's interception stood, Los Angeles could have taken possession with the lead and little more than a minute remaining. Instead, the yellow flag became Denver's lifeline. As one Broncos reporter said, this team has nine lives and then some.In fairness, with or without the controversial call, it was not the referees who blew a 16-0 halftime lead. The Rams came out of the locker room lethargic and allowed back-to-back touchdowns and two-point conversions. The officiating mistake was significant, but it was not the only reason Los Angeles lost its grip on the game.Denver wide receiver Jaylen Waddle caught a touchdown pass against Wallace during the second half of the game. Wallace had appeared to rescue the Rams from their second-half collapse with the interception, but the penalty gave Denver another life. The Broncos capitalized on the opportunity and secured the 26-23 win in front of their home crowd. The game took place on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Denver, with referee Bill Vinovich's crew working the matchup. Rams head coach Sean McVay left the field afterward as his team absorbed a painful loss shaped by a single, heavily debated officiating decision.