RadioOnFire.com - Last night (Jan. 20) the Los Angeles Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints in epic fashion to advance to Super Bowl LIII, however, the victory wasn't without its fair share of controversy, specifically in regards to a missed pass interference penalty late in the 4th Quarter. There was under 2 minutes left in regulation when the Saints faced a 3rd and 10 inside the Rams 12 yard line, when Drew Brees threw a back shoulder throw to Tommylee Lewis on a wheel route towards the goalline. Lewis appeared to be clearly interfered with by Nickell Robey-Coleman who arrived early with helmet-to-helmet contact, yet the officials decided on the field that it was a legal defensive play.
Immediately, the Saints and all of New Orleans looked for the call that would have made it 1st & Goal inside the 5, yet they instead had to settle for a field goal, ultimately losing in overtime after a Brees interception and a 57-yard strike from Rams kicker, Greg Zuerlein. In respect to the no call, Saints coach Sean Payton said that the team will "probably never get over it," adding that he wasn't sure if there "was ever a more obvious pass interference call than that [in NFL history], and here it is, the NFC Championship Game."
Payton also made it clear that after the game he got a phone call from the NFL's head of officiating, Alberto Riveron, who explicitly said to the losing coach that the NFL "messed it up." Payton continued to infer that Riveron admitted that they blew the call, saying that the explanation he received was that "it should never have not been a call, they said not only was it interference, but it was also helmet-to-helmet. They just -- they couldn't believe it."
For his role in the moment, Rams cornerback Robey-Coleman even conceded that he believed that it should have been a penalty, adding that he figured that Saints would have then scored a touchdown on the next play. "It is what it is," he said. "You get a break like that, you have to take advantage of that."
Sure enough, the Rams took full advantage, as they are set to face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots for Super Bowl LIII.
Source: theadvocate.com
No comments:
Post a Comment