The Worst Call Ever?

The drama begins with less than two minutes left in the NFC Championship game. The Los Angeles Rams defensive back Mikel Robey Coleman runs into New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis on an attempted pass that would have put the Saints in the drivers seat to run out the clock and kick a field goal as time expired to win the game in regulation and put them in the Super Bowl. Saints head coach Sean Payton words were, "They blew the call" when asked to describe the decision by the official to not throw the flag on Coleman for pass interference that would have given the Saints first and goal inside the five yard line. As a result of the call, the Saints were forced to kick a field goal early and allow Los Angeles an opportunity to respond and force overtime. This is exactly what happened. A forty-eight yard field goal by Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein in the closing seconds tied the game at 23. New Orleans won the toss in overtime and elected to receive the ball first. Rams defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. tipped a ball thrown by Drew Brees during the drive and altered its intended receiver at the time, pro bowler Mihael Thomas, and put it in the arms of a Rams defender. The Rams offense drove the ball into New Orleans territory and put the game on the line again with Zuerlein once more. He delivered by hitting a fifty-seven yard field goal and advanced the Rams to the Super Bowl where they will play the New England Patriots. Now, days later, the effect of the non-call still lingers around the NFL, talk shows, highway billboards, and even classroom conversations. What should have happened? The reality is that the blatant penalty from cornerback Robey Coleman (check image below) blew the chance for the Saints to make their second ever Super Bowl appearance. By definition, pass interference is a foul that occurs when a player interferes with a receivers ability to make a fair attempt to catch the ball on a forward pass. We saw Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis get leveled on his attempt to catch a pass thrown right in front of him. Even Rams players acknowledged the missed pass interference. Rams running back Todd Gurley posted a picture on twitter where he photoshopped a picture pretending to do a jersey swap with the referee to troll Saints fans. The reason this controversy exist is because the Rams won. If the Saints had gone on to win in regulation or overtime we would not have had this big of an issue about it because the outcome wouldn't have had the Rams winning the game. So what's next. Replay for pass interference and penalties that extend the game to be longer than it already is? While nobody really knows for certain what will happen, there is an outcome to change the rule for the better. In the last five minutes of the game and in overtime, penalties should be reviewed to be overturned, or called. This hasn't happened this season only in this one instance. Remember in the very beginning of the season when Packers line backer Clay Matthews was called for roughing the passer that let Vikings back in? That call could have directed the season in a different way for the Packers, and certainly for the Saints in this scenario. This offseason will be interesting to follow when the NFL team owners get together once again and determine new rules and issues that came up this season to better the game. This non-call was unacceptable and there has to be some change to never let this happen again. To Rams fans who do not want to see this rule take place, I'll leave you with this. Who knows, maybe Los Angeles will benefit from the call next year and hurt the Saints first. (Which will happen because the Saints get screwed a lot). Everyone would want this rule if pass interference call was against anyone other than their team.