Saints-Rams Refereeing Controversy: SMH

Yes.   Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman clearly committed pass interference on New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis on the 3rd and 10 pass play with 1:49 left in the fourth quarter of a 20-20 game.   And yes, no flag was to be found anywhere on the field.    It was an egregious no-call, which cost the Saints an automatic first down at the spot of the foul and a chance to continue to drive for a game-winning touchdown or at least a game-winning field goal attempt with little or no time left on the clock.   But, did it cost them the game?   No.  

I know this is not a popular opinion; nor one which people, especially Saints fans, want to hear, but the game's outcome was still firmly in the Saints control as it became clear the Saints would not benefit from a pass interference call.    But the Saints kicked a go-ahead field goal which put them up 23-20, but then the Rams drove down the field into Greg Zuerlein's field goal range and by the end of the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 23.    The Saints then won the coin toss and the offense had first crack at the ball in overtime, but Drew Brees threw a costly interception which the Rams turned into a game-winning 57-yard field goal by Zuerlein which sent the Rams to Super Bowl LIII and the Saints and their fans to misery.   And insanity.

Saints coach Sean Payton was furious, and continued to express his displeasure to referee Bill Vinovich and his crew even while the game was still going on.    As a poker player, I know what it is like to suffer a bad loss on a hand and go on tilt.   That is what Payton did.   His comment after the game, "We will never get over this," was very revealing.   He sure didn't get over it while the game was still happening, and it cost the Saints.     The Saints went on tilt, and never recovered from the bad break.    Again, I know this is not a popular opinion, but the results speak for themselves.

So, what has happened since?   Two Saints fans filed federal lawsuits against the NFL, while many more demanded Commissioner Roger Goodell order the final 1:49 of the game to be played again.    I'm sure he will get right on that.    Saints fans want to hold a parade to honor the Saints anyway even though they did not win the NFC title.    Louisiana's governor and a member of the House of Representatives from Louisiana called for a congressional hearing.   What, we don't have more pressing matters the House should be attending to right about now?   

Let me be clear by stating the refereeing crew made an indefensible non-call of an obvious pass interference penalty.   The league office will likely take action against the official who failed to throw the flag.    Maybe there is some merit to looking into adding pass interference penalties as part of the review process.    I don't think it is wise to stop the action every time there is contact between defenders and receivers because the game will take five hours.    And don't tell me it is worth it to have a game be five hours long as long as the calls are right.   Baloney.   Let's see how patient you are when you have to sit through a five-hour game.   You can add pass interference to the list of reviewable plays, but let the coaches determine if they really want to throw a challenge flag before having it reviewed and potentially burning a time out on a failed review.   I don't feel adding five more challenges to each coach is the way to right this supposed wrong.   

But, are we really going to say the Saints have never benefitted from refs keeping flags in their pockets?    Earlier in the same game, the refs missed a face masking penalty against the Saints on Rams quarterback Jared Goff which would've added 15 yards to their drive.    I wasn't hearing about congressional hearings when that happened.    Refereeing is an inexact science.    Calls are missed.  Flags are sometimes thrown when they shouldn't be and not thrown when they should be.   Teams benefit from this and are sometimes burned by it.   It balances out during the course of a game or a season.   

It is easier to blame a handful of referees for heartbreak than it is an entire team you love.    The Saints had a lead erased twice during the NFC Championship game, including a 13-0, 20-10, and 23-20 lead.    The fans are champing at the bit to hear the league office comment on the matter.   What could they say but the call was blown?    What confession would fans like to hear which would assuage their outrage?    Assuming we add pass interference to reviewable plays, then should be add holding?   Face masks?    Blocks in the back?   

The Saints caught a bad break.   No doubt.   At some point, they likely benefitted from getting away with a penalty also.    We can't be calling for Congressional hearings every time hometown fans experience heartbreak from perceived outside forces.    In nearly every circumstance, there is still plenty of game to be played following the error.    Bad breaks happen.   Errors suck, but there are errors and always will be in the world of sports.    But, Congress has enough on its plate without worrying about why the New Orleans Saints aren't playing in next week's Super Bowl in Atlanta.