We all know the play from the Rams-Saints conference championship game. Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman ran into Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis on a critical 3rd down with the game tied at 20-20 in the fourth quarter. It was a huge play and call that change the course of the game. I don’t feel like explaining this since we all know the story but at last, I will. Robey-Coleman ran across the field to try to cover Lewis on a blown coverage but collided into him, helmet-to-helmet.
Saints fans and media pundits cried about how it should’ve been a pass interference and helmet-to-helmet that would’ve led to an automatic first down. It would’ve allowed the Saints to take a knee a few times and kick some spineless field goal with no time left to punch their tickets to Atlanta (much to the ire of you Falcons fans). However, no flag was thrown. Saints kicked a field goal and then the Rams tied it, went OT, got a pick, and kicked another field goal to go to the Super Bowl.
Now we have to deal with you annoying Saints fans trying to sue the league and crying how you got screwed. Give it a rest. You’re not the first time to have been snubbed by a bad call here and there. It happens to every football team in almost every game. You clown team should’ve overcame it but they didn’t. The Saints had a facemask on Jared Goff that wasn’t called. It would’ve given the Rams a first and goal with a very good chance to go up 24-20. Changes the game. Another facemask was on Brandin Cooks of the Rams.
In the Pats-Chiefs game, there were a number of bad calls on both sides (counter to what anti-Pats fans will try to push to you). The facemask/roughing the passer on the Brady was bogus but so was the one on Mahomes. The Chiefs committed an illegal pick on the pass to Sammy Watkins that set up a go ahead 28-24 lead for the Chiefs late in the fourth.
The Patriots J.C. Jackson PI was a joke. People are saying the Pats got lucky on the Dee Ford offside play since it led to a pick that didn’t count. They’re forgetting that on offsides, it is a free play. My case and point is that there were bad calls on all four teams, but you have to overcome it by making timely stops and executing down the stretch. The Saints didn’t.
Sean Payton was busy barking at the refs about the no-call instead of gathering his team and getting them to refocus. Maybe he should stop dancing obnoxiously in the locker room after wins and trash talking opposing players. Maybe he should instead be a little bit more stoic and be that calm guiding force to keep his team focus and not in over the heads. But that’s just a suggestion.
Speaking of Sean Payton, why didn’t he run it on first down? None of you sheep Saints fans are complaining of that. It would’ve forced the Rams to burn an extra timeout and make it harder on them in their final drive. What’s with the cover 0 blitz that your boy Dennis Allen was dialing up in that final defensive drive of regulation against the Rams? You’re lucky Goff panic twice with an erratic throws or else wide receiver Robert Woods would’ve took it to the house and ice the game in regulation on either occasion.
Sean Payton got outcoached badly. They couldn’t put the right formation to stop Johnny Heckker from completing that pass to a safety when you know on tape that the Rams special teams likes to call those plays with a punter that is capable. Not to mention, Wade Phillips took away the threat of passing to Alvin Kamara in the backfield. The Saints offensive line couldn’t hold Suh and your team failed to scheme up plays for Thomas to get open since he couldn’t get open man-to-man against Talib. There weren’t any adjustments. Had your coach Payton and his staff done something, they could’ve pulled away from the Rams earlier in that game.
Why are you all giving Drew Brees a pass for his horrendous pick in overtime? I understand that he was staring Rams defender Fowler right in the face, but the man was better off taking a sack or throwing it in the dirt. If Matt Ryan or Kirk Cousins did that, all of you will be killing them regardless of some blown call prior to that.
Let’s face it. The real reason you Saints fans are crying is because you know that it wasn’t just the refs that blew the calls but that your team ultimately blew this game at home. You know that this was probably your last run with this team. Brees is basically 40 and started to slow down as the season progressed. I’m not prognosticating some rapid decline next season. I expect him to still play well, but you guys know that the last NFC team with a bye to repeat as a bye team the following season were the 2013-2014 Seattle Seahawks. Most of the recent number 1 and 2 seeds in the NFC do not even make the playoffs the following season as a matter of fact.
The Saints have a good roster but it’s the NFL. You’re not a lock to be as good as you were this season. The window is small and that’s why this one hurts. But let’s not lose perspective. It was bad call in week of bad calls. The difference was your team wasn’t good enough that Sunday to overcome it and that’s why you’re sitting at home for Super Bowl.
WHO DAT!
