Sean Payton About The Referee’s Decision: ” We’ll Never Get Over It”

The Los Angeles Rams are back to the Super Bowl after 18 years of absence. They won in New Orleans against the Saints, delivering a fatal blow to the hosts during OT, 26-23.

Hero of today’s game is Greg Zuerlein, whose 57-yard field goal silenced the crazy atmosphere in Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

It was his second kick of the night, which made Saints’ fans feel desperate, as he tied the game 15 seconds before the end, from 48 yards.

Previously, John Johnson picked up Drew Brees’ poor pass while falling on his back. That was probably the decisive play of the match.

Still, there was another situation which pretty much defined the final result. The referees didn’t call for an obvious pass interference on Saints’ Tommylee Lewis who was tackled and blown away by Nickell Robey-Coleman, before the ball even got to him.

If by any chance they threw a flag, it would move the chains, give the Saints new first down and they could kneel until the end.

Sean Payton was furious after the game.

“They blew the call.” New Orleans’ coach told at the press, referring to the referees. “It’s a game-changing call…for a call like that not too be made, man”

Payton reminded that it wasn’t just one penalty involved, and that besides the pass interference, Robey-Coleman made a helmet-to-to helmet knock, which is illegal. It means that New Orleans would receive more yards and would be much closer to an endzone.

Saints coach had a talk with the NFL officials after the game. And to be perfectly straight, the Saints were damaged in this situation with all due respect towards LA Rams and their fans. Payton stated that the head of all officials Alberto Riveron admitted that his colleagues made a huge mistake.

“We spoke initially, then I called to follow up. And the first thing [head of officials Alberto Riveron] said when I got on the phone — ‘We messed it up.'”

What is even worse is the fact that Rams cornerback, Robey-Coleman expected to be penalized after what he did. He was honest after the match and admitted that it should be a penalty.

“I thought it was for a split-second; but the ref got up — when I got up, he said, ‘Incomplete,’ so I just was like, ‘Thank you,'” the cornerback stated. “I didn’t look back at the ball. I didn’t play the ball.”

The situation like this one could be a devastating blow for the players-referees relationship. We’ve seen many decision this season, which were suspicious, but neither of them had been this obvious. The playoffs are something different than the regular part of the season, and the referees should be much more careful.

If one is not certain in his call, he should ask for a replay to see the play, especially in the last two minutes, when the game is no the line. In this case, not only the game but the potential Super Bowl ring.

The Saints are denied a chance to repeat the success from 2010, and they had legit chances to win the Super Bowl. With Drew Brees in this state, and the team around him, they wouldn’t be an underdog against any of the other two rivals from the AFC.

Still, they are not going to surrender. That is at least what Payton said. The Saints will never get over this one, especially after last year and Minnesota, but still, they will try to bounce back stronger.

“So what do you do? You get back up, and you got to work. This will be a tough one for these players, for the coaches. … But it happened, though, so we can’t dwell on it. And we’ll probably never get over it.”

The time will show if New Orleans has enough strength for something like that. Brees is not getting any younger. There are a lot of players who have to be negotiated with about their new deals.

All in all, this wasn’t the ending this team deserved.