In yesterday’s NFC Conference Championship, the New Orleans Saints had the ball on the Los Angeles Rams’ 13-yard line with the game tied at 20-20 and 1:45 left on the clock.
On third down and 10, Drew Brees dropped back to pass and bullet’s a pass to his receiver Tommylee Lewis streaking along the sideline. Before that pass could reach Lewis, Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman flattens Lewis. Everyone in Mercedes-Benz Stadium and those watching at home expected to see a penalty flag that never came.
The importance of that play can’t be overstated: if the refs call pass interference, as they should’ve, the Saints are going to Super Bowl LIII. If that penalty flag is thrown, the Saints would’ve had a first down, meaning they could bleed the clock and kick an easy, go-ahead field goal.
Instead the Saints had to settle for the field goal with a minute and a half remaining. That proved the perfect amount of time for the Rams to drive down the field and send the game to overtime with a field goal of their own.
The Rams then went on to win the game in overtime.
Sports celebrities and commentators took to twitter to mock the call, or criticise the referees for missing one of the most blatant penalties in playoff history.
LeBron James was excited that the LA Rams had won, since he currently plays for the LA Lakers. But he couldn’t hide his destain for the referees.
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Fellow NBA Star James Harden also expressed his thoughts – emojis are louder than words.
NFL analysts and commentators seemed to agree that the referees missed a crucial call.
Others poked fun at the missed call.
Everyone seemed to agree that the refs made a serious blunder in missing that pass interference call. The legacies of so many have been altered forever, and the hearts of the New Orleans faithful are broken.
