Saints lose Super Bowl trip to Rams after controversial no-call; NFL says "We messed it up"

01-20-2019, 09:31 PM

jeanpierre · 01-20-2019, 09:32 PM

BY BROOKS KUBENA | bkubena@theadvocate.com Jan 20, 2019 - 8:00 pm

Tommylee Lewis said he saw what everybody else saw.

The New Orleans Saints receiver couldn't hardly see at all on the play. Not with Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman in the way, jarring Lewis with his helmet and forearms, as the football followed, moments behind, skidding incomplete into the ground.

Lewis said he "bounced up looking for a flag" for pass interference, and he was "shocked" when he didn't see one.

He questioned the officials: "They didn't say anything."

The no-call will go down in infamy.

The boos that followed perhaps the most influential, controversial no-call in New Orleans Saints history — if not NFL history — are probably still echoing within the inner chambers of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The Rams are going to the Super Bowl. Their 26-23 overtime victory over the Saints in the NFC championship game on Sunday sealed that.

But Sean Payton said the Saints will "probably never get over it" — the missed penalty off a wheel route on third-and 10 at the Rams 13; when New Orleans would have "only needed three plays" to run out the 1:48 that remained in regulation in a 20-20 game and kick the game-winning field goal that would have sent the Saints to their second Super Bowl in franchise history.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said he respected that the officials "let the guys compete and let the guys play."

"I thought it was a competitive-type play," McVay said. "And I am certainly not going to complain about the way that was officiated."

When Payton left the field, he said he spoke on the phone with Al Riveron, the NFL's senior vice president of officiating.

The first thing Riveron told Payton: "We messed it up."

The explanation?

"It was simple," Payton said. "They blew the call. It should never have not been a call. They said not only was it interference, it was helmet-to-helmet. There were two calls. They couldn't believe it."

Neither could the Saints fans inside the Superdome, the crowd of 73,028 that roared its displeasure when the replay was shown on the video screen again and again and again.

The P.A. voice boomed: SAINTS FANS. DO NOT THROW OBJECTS ONTO THE FIELD.

Some Saints fans did not listen.

Hats. Plastic bottles. They cascaded off the edge of the upper bowl like menacing Mardi Gras beads.

When Wil Lutz's 31-yard kick fell true, a plastic cup, still half-empty with beer, was flung over the edge, into the lower bowl where the boos brewed.

There was nothing in the NFL rulebook that could change the outcome.

As head referee Bill Vonovich said after the game: "It is not a reviewable play."

Perhaps that will change, Payton said, who pointed out he's on the NFL's competition committee, which has the power to adopt or modify rules.

"We all want to get it right, right? We've got plenty of technology to speed things up," Payton said. "I hope no other team has to lose a game like we lost that one today."

The Saints have been eliminated from the playoffs on garment-tearing plays in two consecutive seasons

Last season, it was the freak-play, 61-yard touchdown reception by Minnesota's Stefon Diggs that beat the Saints in the last seconds of the NFC divisional round.

That play could be perceived as a miracle.

But this loss to the Rams felt like robbery, and Payton's call from the league office confirmed it.

"So do you give us a rematch?" said Saints receiver Michael Thomas, shuffling at his locker. "Can we play them again next Sunday? Can we reset the clock? We weren't playing this game to end up like that."

But even after the no-call, there was still time.

The Rams still drove 45 yards to kick a game-tying field goal before the end of regulation.

The Saints still got the ball at the beginning of overtime — a drive that ended on a Drew Brees interception.

The defense still could have gotten a stop on the final drive of the game.

"Was it out of our control?" said Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan. "We let them get close to us. We ended up having a 10-, 13-point lead at one time. And you can't let your foot off the gas.

"We were defeated at the end of the day. So, we don't have the right to complain about the what-if's, the shouldas, the couldas."

But those what-ifs, shouldas and couldas always will be there.

foreverfan likes this.

neugey · 01-20-2019, 09:42 PM

Targeting, and perhaps also pass interference, needs to be eligible for coach's challenge. On top of that, all roughing the passer should be automatically reviewed after it is called to make sure it was a credible foul. You just saw the bogus roughing on Brady 10 minutes ago. The NFL officials are simply entrusted with too much.

saintfan · 01-20-2019, 09:46 PM

I've seen bad calls like this before. In High School. When the fix was in.

We were beat down and robbed.

Halo · 01-20-2019, 09:48 PM

2 refs were on the scene and at 2 different angles, and neiher threw the flag.
Evidence is here. I posted this in another thread. It's real.

Watch the replay in this tweet. Watch the entire replay.
You can see a side judge hat and another ref's pant stripe on the edge watch the entire thing happen and no flag. No excuse. These guys should be canned.

https://twitter.com/PokerWorld2018/s...23769985040384

2 Refs watched it happen directly...

1st Ref watched it happen head on....

2nd Ref, Side judge, watched it happen from 2nd angle....

ChrisXVI · 01-20-2019, 09:49 PM

It’s always something with this team in the playoffs. Beastquake, the Vernon Davis catch, the Minneapolis Miracle, the PI no-call... I don’t know why I expected a different outcome today.

Halo · 01-20-2019, 09:51 PM

bobdog86 · 01-20-2019, 09:53 PM

F**k the nfl...apology? Big deal.no sense pissing, moaning and whining. Changes zero. NFL got there big market, new darling into the superbowl

Halo · 01-20-2019, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by bobdog86

F**k the nfl...apology? Big deal.no sense pissing, moaning and whining. Changes zero. NFL got there big market, new darling into the superbowl

Yep

neugey · 01-20-2019, 09:58 PM

If the NFL is looking for a deal, I'd take the Rams 1st round pick, plus additional compensatory picks at end of the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

01-20-2019, 09:31 PM	#1
Threaded by jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39 Rating: (0 votes - average) Twitter
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01-20-2019, 09:32 PM	#2
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Saints lose Super Bowl trip to Rams after controversial no-call; NFL says "We messed it up" BY BROOKS KUBENA \| bkubena@theadvocate.com Jan 20, 2019 - 8:00 pm Tommylee Lewis said he saw what everybody else saw. The New Orleans Saints receiver couldn't hardly see at all on the play. Not with Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman in the way, jarring Lewis with his helmet and forearms, as the football followed, moments behind, skidding incomplete into the ground. Lewis said he "bounced up looking for a flag" for pass interference, and he was "shocked" when he didn't see one. He questioned the officials: "They didn't say anything." Twitter The no-call will go down in infamy. The boos that followed perhaps the most influential, controversial no-call in New Orleans Saints history — if not NFL history — are probably still echoing within the inner chambers of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Rams are going to the Super Bowl. Their 26-23 overtime victory over the Saints in the NFC championship game on Sunday sealed that. But Sean Payton said the Saints will "probably never get over it" — the missed penalty off a wheel route on third-and 10 at the Rams 13; when New Orleans would have "only needed three plays" to run out the 1:48 that remained in regulation in a 20-20 game and kick the game-winning field goal that would have sent the Saints to their second Super Bowl in franchise history. Rams head coach Sean McVay said he respected that the officials "let the guys compete and let the guys play." "I thought it was a competitive-type play," McVay said. "And I am certainly not going to complain about the way that was officiated." When Payton left the field, he said he spoke on the phone with Al Riveron, the NFL's senior vice president of officiating. The first thing Riveron told Payton: "We messed it up." The explanation? "It was simple," Payton said. "They blew the call. It should never have not been a call. They said not only was it interference, it was helmet-to-helmet. There were two calls. They couldn't believe it." Neither could the Saints fans inside the Superdome, the crowd of 73,028 that roared its displeasure when the replay was shown on the video screen again and again and again. The P.A. voice boomed: SAINTS FANS. DO NOT THROW OBJECTS ONTO THE FIELD. Some Saints fans did not listen. Hats. Plastic bottles. They cascaded off the edge of the upper bowl like menacing Mardi Gras beads. When Wil Lutz's 31-yard kick fell true, a plastic cup, still half-empty with beer, was flung over the edge, into the lower bowl where the boos brewed. There was nothing in the NFL rulebook that could change the outcome. As head referee Bill Vonovich said after the game: "It is not a reviewable play." Perhaps that will change, Payton said, who pointed out he's on the NFL's competition committee, which has the power to adopt or modify rules. "We all want to get it right, right? We've got plenty of technology to speed things up," Payton said. "I hope no other team has to lose a game like we lost that one today." The Saints have been eliminated from the playoffs on garment-tearing plays in two consecutive seasons Last season, it was the freak-play, 61-yard touchdown reception by Minnesota's Stefon Diggs that beat the Saints in the last seconds of the NFC divisional round. That play could be perceived as a miracle. But this loss to the Rams felt like robbery, and Payton's call from the league office confirmed it. "So do you give us a rematch?" said Saints receiver Michael Thomas, shuffling at his locker. "Can we play them again next Sunday? Can we reset the clock? We weren't playing this game to end up like that." But even after the no-call, there was still time. The Rams still drove 45 yards to kick a game-tying field goal before the end of regulation. The Saints still got the ball at the beginning of overtime — a drive that ended on a Drew Brees interception. The defense still could have gotten a stop on the final drive of the game. "Was it out of our control?" said Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan. "We let them get close to us. We ended up having a 10-, 13-point lead at one time. And you can't let your foot off the gas. "We were defeated at the end of the day. So, we don't have the right to complain about the what-if's, the shouldas, the couldas." But those what-ifs, shouldas and couldas always will be there. foreverfan likes this.
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

01-20-2019, 09:42 PM	#3
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,715 Blog Entries: 13	Re: Saints lose Super Bowl trip to Rams after controversial no-call; NFL says "We messed it up" Targeting, and perhaps also pass interference, needs to be eligible for coach's challenge. On top of that, all roughing the passer should be automatically reviewed after it is called to make sure it was a credible foul. You just saw the bogus roughing on Brady 10 minutes ago. The NFL officials are simply entrusted with too much. foreverfan likes this.

01-20-2019, 09:46 PM	#4
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Re: Saints lose Super Bowl trip to Rams after controversial no-call; NFL says "We messed it up" I've seen bad calls like this before. In High School. When the fix was in. We were beat down and robbed. Halo and CheramieIII like this.

01-20-2019, 09:48 PM	#5
Halo Site Donor MONTHLY Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 20,718 Blog Entries: 45	Re: Saints lose Super Bowl trip to Rams after controversial no-call; NFL says "We messed it up" 2 refs were on the scene and at 2 different angles, and neiher threw the flag. Evidence is here. I posted this in another thread. It's real. Watch the replay in this tweet. Watch the entire replay. You can see a side judge hat and another ref's pant stripe on the edge watch the entire thing happen and no flag. No excuse. These guys should be canned. https://twitter.com/PokerWorld2018/s...23769985040384 *2 Refs watched it happen directly...* 1st Ref watched it happen head on.... 2nd Ref, Side judge, watched it happen from 2nd angle.... CheramieIII, foreverfan, Rugby Saint II and 2 others like this.

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01-20-2019, 09:49 PM	#6
ChrisXVI 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 11,482	Re: Saints lose Super Bowl trip to Rams after controversial no-call; NFL says "We messed it up" It’s always something with this team in the playoffs. Beastquake, the Vernon Davis catch, the Minneapolis Miracle, the PI no-call... I don’t know why I expected a different outcome today. Rugby Saint II, dizzle88 and OldMaid like this.

01-20-2019, 09:51 PM	#7
Halo Site Donor MONTHLY Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 20,718 Blog Entries: 45	Re: Saints lose Super Bowl trip to Rams after controversial no-call; NFL says "We messed it up" Twitter

01-20-2019, 09:53 PM	#8
bobdog86 Site Donor Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,414	Re: Saints lose Super Bowl trip to Rams after controversial no-call; NFL says "We messed it up" F**k the nfl...apology? Big deal.no sense pissing, moaning and whining. Changes zero. NFL got there big market, new darling into the superbowl CheramieIII and OldMaid like this.

01-20-2019, 09:54 PM	#9
Halo Site Donor MONTHLY Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 20,718 Blog Entries: 45	Re: Saints lose Super Bowl trip to Rams after controversial no-call; NFL says "We messed it up" Originally Posted by bobdog86 F**k the nfl...apology? Big deal.no sense pissing, moaning and whining. Changes zero. NFL got there big market, new darling into the superbowl Yep CheramieIII and OldMaid like this.

01-20-2019, 09:58 PM	#10
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,715 Blog Entries: 13	Re: Saints lose Super Bowl trip to Rams after controversial no-call; NFL says "We messed it up" If the NFL is looking for a deal, I'd take the Rams 1st round pick, plus additional compensatory picks at end of the 2nd and 3rd rounds. foreverfan, Rugby Saint II, OldMaid and 1 others like this.