The Saints Super Bowl hopes were dashed inside a stunned Superdome on Sunday by a missed pass interference call and a 57-yard field goal in OT to give the Rams a 26-23 win over the Black and Gold. New Orleans had a chance to win in regulation, but thanks to the officials, L.A. was able to tie the game. Coach Sean Payton says the league office told him afterwards, the refs blew the call.
“Listen it’s a hard job for those guys, because it’s happening fast, but I don’t know if there was ever a more obvious pass interference call and here it is in the NFC Championship game, so tough one to swallow,” said Payton.
Payton says the NFL told him that not only was it pass interference on the Rams Nickell Robey-Coleman, but it was also helmet-to-helmet contact on Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis. Payton says the technology is in place to use instant replay to review that type of play.
“I’m on the competition committee, so hopefully that provides a voice, but man I hope no other team has to lose a game the way we lost that one though,” said Payton.
Quarterback Drew Brees said after the game he plans on being back next season to make another run at the Super Bowl, but says this loss will be tough to get over and part of the reason is the missed P-I call.
“I think plenty of times throughout the season there are calls that go against you, go for you, they missed or they didn’t, but obviously in a situation like that, where it seemed everybody in the world saw it, that’s tough,” said Brees.
Brees says the missed pass interference call is something he can not control, so he’ll focus on the opportunities missed to score more points as they had to settle for three field goals on the afternoon.
“As I rehearse the game in my mind, could have kept a drive alive here, could have got points here, whatever it might be, there’s always those moments after a game win or lose, where you felt like you had those opportunities, but in a game like this everyone of those would have counted,” said Brees.
It’s the first time the Saints have lost a home playoff game in the Payton-Brees era. New Orleans is now 1-and-2 in NFC Championship games.
