Buffalo Bills

Rex Ryan says he was 'stupid' to challenge a last-minute TD in Bills loss to Patriots

Published Nov. 15, 2016 1:46 p.m. ET

Nunzio Ingrassia

Rex Ryan talks a big game, but the Buffalo Bills head coach usually takes responsibility for his shortcomings. The latest example came Tuesday, when he admitted to reporters it was “stupid” for him to throw a challenge flag late in the Bills’ 41-25 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.

With less than a minute left in the game and the Bills trailing 41-17, Buffalo running back Jonathan Williams was ruled short of crossing the goal line, a ruling Ryan challenged.

Ryan, who was none too pleased at the time due to the lopsided score, threw the flag in disgust even though he knew challenges are not allowed in the final two minutes of the half.

“That was stupid on my part,” Ryan said, via the Buffalo News. “I was upset because I told the [refs] I can’t challenge it. I said, I can’t throw the red flag; it’s inside of two minutes, I can’t challenge. I said, but it’s clearly a touchdown, can you please review it? You guys know it is, please review it. I know the game doesn’t matter, the game’s over, I get it. But it’d be nice if this kid gets a touchdown. I said, it’s clearly a touchdown. So they didn’t do it and I did something stupid.”

The loss dropped the Bills to 4-4, three games behind the 7-1 Pats in the AFC East.