2018 NFC Championship Game
The controversial hit in the 2018 NFC Championship Game. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | January 20, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium | Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Bill Vinovich (52) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 73,028 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| TV in the United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | Fox | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews and Chris Myers | |||||||||||||||||||||
The 2018 NFC Championship Game officiating controversy was a play in the American Football 2018 NFC Championship Game in the National Football League between the #2 seeded Los Angeles Rams and the #1 seeded New Orleans Saints. The games was played in Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana and, being the NFC Championship game, was televised nationally on Fox.[1]
Just before, Brees completed a 43-yard pass to Ted Ginn Jr., moving the Saints all the way to the Los Angeles 13-yard line. The play took place with just 1:49 remaining in regulation when Drew Brees attempted a pass to Tommylee Lewis, who was being covered by Nickell Robey-Coleman. Before the ball reached Lewis, Robey-Coleman delivered a hit and knocked Lewis down, allowing the ball to fall incomplete. The referees called no pass interference penalty, causing the outrage. The Saints managed a field goal, but eventually lost 26-23 in overtime.[2] It was considered by some to be to worst no-call in NFL history.[3][4][5]
Events of the play
Prior to the play, the game was tied 20-20. The Saints offense had stalled inside the red-zone at the Los Angeles 13 yard line. At 3rd and 10 with 1:49 remaining, If the Saints picked up the first down, they could have ran the clock to under 20 seconds before kicking the field goal, essentially winning the game and guaranteeing themselves a ticket to the Super Bowl. If they failed to convert, they would have to kick the field goal and give the Rams back the ball with ample time remaining.
The play began at 1:49, with Quarterback Drew Brees taking the ball. Brees threw the ball toward the right sideline, targeting Tommylee Lewis. Before Lewis could attempt to catch the ball, he was blindsided by Nickell Robey-Coleman at about the 6 yard line, knocking him to the ground. Although this should have been called a pass interference penalty, no flag was thrown. Sean Payton was enraged and attempted to explain to the referees the call, but to no avail. After the game he said that he and the team would "probably never get over it."[6]
Overtime
Although the Saints were deprived of a crucial touchdown, they did manage a field goal to make the score 23-20 with 1:41 remaining. However, the Rams put together a quick drive and kick a 48 yard field goal with :15 on the clock. The Saints elect to kneel and send the game into overtime. The Saints are awarded the opening kickoff, and pick up a quick 15 yards thanks to a pass interference call. However, on 2nd and 16 just 1 minute into overtime, Brees gets his arm hit while throwing deep and the ball is intercepted by John Johnson while on his back. The Rams don't succeed much on offense, but Greg Zuerlein manages to kick the 57 yard game-winning field goal ending the game and sending the Rams to the Super Bowl. The Rams go on to lose 13-3 against the New England Patriots.
Aftermath
On January 25, the NFL released a statement saying that not only should there have been a penalty flag against Nickell Robey-Coleman for pass interference, but also for initiating contact using his helmet. Robey-Coleman was later fined $26,739 for what the League called a helmet to helmet hit.[7][8][9]
A petition on Change.org was made demanding that that the NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, declare a rematch between the Rams and the Saints on January 27, 2019, the Sunday before the Super Bowl. 760,512 people signed the petition, but no such action was taken.[10]
Starting lineups
| Los Angeles | Position | New Orleans | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offense | |||
| Tyler Higbee | TE | WR | Tre'Quan Smith |
| Andrew Whitworth | LT | Terron Armstead | |
| Rodger Saffold | LG | Andrus Peat | |
| John Sullivan | C | Max Unger | |
| Austin Blythe | RG | Larry Warford | |
| Rob Havenstein | RT | Ryan Ramczyk | |
| Gerald Everett | TE | Garrett Griffin | |
| Brandin Cooks | WR | Michael Thomas | |
| Jared Goff | QB | Drew Brees | |
| Robert Woods | WR | Ted Ginn Jr | |
| Todd Gurley | HB | RB | Mark Ingram |
| Defense | |||
| Michael Brockers | DE | LDE | Cameron Jordan |
| Ndamukong Suh | NT | Tyeler Davison | |
| Aaron Donald | DT | David Onyemata | |
| Dante Fowler | WILL | Demario Davis | |
| Cory Littleton | ILB | RDE | Alex Okafor |
| Mark Barron | ILB | SAM | A. J. Klein |
| Nickell Robey | CB | Marshon Lattimore | |
| Marcus Peters | LCB | Eli Apple | |
| Aqib Talib | RCB | S | Vonn Bell |
| Lamarcus Joyner | SS | CB | P.J. Williams |
| John Johnson | SS | FS | Marcus Williams |
| Source: [[11]] | |||
Officials
- Referee: Bill Vinovich (#52)
- Line Judge: Rusty Baynes (#59)
- Down Judge: Patrick Turner (#13)
- Side Judge: Tom Hill (#97)
- Umpire: Bruce Stritesky (#102)
- Field Judge: Gary Cavaletto (#60)
- Back Judge: Todd Prukop (#30)
- Replay Official: Mike Wimmer (#0)
See Also
References
- ^ "Rams vs. Saints: Time, TV channel, how to watch NFC championship game". Sporting News. 2019-01-20. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- ^ Press, Associated (2019-01-20). "Rams beat Saints in overtime to make Super Bowl after 'missed' call". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- ^ "NFL playoffs 2019: New videos of infamous Rams-Saints 'no-call' make play look even worse". Sporting News. 2019-01-24. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- ^ Heifetz, Danny (2019-01-20). "Ball Does Lie: The Saints Just Lost on the Worst Missed Call in NFL Playoff History". The Ringer. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- ^ Edholm, Eric. "Missed PI might have been worst non-call ever, but will NFL change replay because of it?". www.profootballweekly.com. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- ^ "Saints' Payton: Referee chief admitted blown call". ESPN.com. 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- ^ Klein, Gary. "Rams' Nickell Robey-Coleman is fined for helmet-to-helmet hit against Saints receiver". latimes.com. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- ^ "Sources: Rams CB fined; Goodell talks to Payton". ESPN.com. 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- ^ "NFL admits second flag should have been thrown on key Rams-Saints play with new $26K fine of Robey-Coleman". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- ^ Dabe, Christopher (2019-01-22). "Saints-Rams petition nears 600K, ranks among website's most-signed". nola.com. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- ^ "National Football League Game Summary | Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints" (PDF). NFL.com.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help)
 | This article, 2018 NFC Championship Game, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
| This article, 2018 NFC Championship Game, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |