In the first game of Championship Sunday, we saw the Los Angeles Rams go to Mercedes-Benz Superdome and battle the New Orleans Saints. It was a rematch of the Week 9 matchup where the Saints defeated the Rams 45-35. This time around, however, it would be for a trip to the Super Bowl.
Game Summary
Going into this game, many saw the Saints as the best team in the NFL with no signs of letting up in the playoffs. Despite this, the Rams still came to play.
Early in the first quarter, the game absolutely belonged to New Orleans. A pair of Will Lutz FGs gave the Saints a 6-0 with just over seven minutes to go in the first. With 1:35 left, QB Drew Brees hit TE Garrett Griffin for his first career touchdown reception.
As the quarter ended, the Rams began to get back to what got them to this game. Following the dominance by the Saints in the first quarter, the Rams dominated the second quarter. This included a Greg Zuerlein FG and a touchdown by RB Todd Gurley II to pull the Rams to within three points at halftime.
As the second half kicked off, fans and analyst alike laid witness to a fantastic performance by both teams. Thanks to the exceptional WR skill set of RB Alvin Kamara, the Saints early in the first half, marched all the way down to the two-yard line. From there, the Saints capped off the drive with a two-yard Drew Brees-to-Taysom Hill connection for a 20-10 lead on the Rams. Sean McVay’s offense would swiftly answer on a 10-play 75-yard drive which ended with QB Jared Goff swinging it to TE Tyler Higbee for a touchdown.
4th Quarter
The 4th quarter began with the Saints having a 20-17 lead. What a controversial quarter. The first score wouldn’t come until five minutes left when the Rams tied the game with a 24-yard FG making it a 20-20. On the ensuing possession, Drew Brees hit a 43-yard bomb to WR Ted Ginn Jr. Then, all hell broke
With 1:49 left on the Rams’ 13-yard line, Drew Brees dropped back and swung a pass to WR Tommylee Lewis that would be broken up by CB Nickell Robey-Coleman. As he “broke up” the pass, Robey-Coleman mauled Lewis with a hit that drew no flag. Sounds of anger roared through the stadiums, as the players, coaches, and fans were livid. The Rams kept the Saints to only a FG, making it 23-20. With the burden of a controversial call waving over the game, the Rams marched down and tied the game, with 15 seconds left to send it to overtime.
In overtime, the Rams defense came through big time. With the Saints winning the toss, all they had to do was score a touchdown to win the game. The Rams didn’t even allow a FG.
On the Saints’ 34-yard line on 2nd-and-16, DE Dante Fowler pressured Drew Brees into making a risky pass through the air that dipped into an interception by SS John Johnson. Five plays and 15 yards later, Goff put the Rams into FG range. From here, Zuerlein hit a 57-yarder to send Los Angeles to their first Super Bowl since 2001. The Rams won the game, but the talk would be about the controversial no-call.
Worst No-Call in History?
When Brees’ floated a pass to Tommylee Lewis, Nickell Robey-Coleman wasn’t even close to playing the ball. Without even turning his head, Robey-Coleman went straight for Lewis with helmet-to-helmet contact that didn’t even draw a flag. Following the Rams’ win, all you’ve heard from players, coaches, and fans is that they were robbed. To me and many others, that call literally cost the Saints the game, and it can’t be stated enough. Post-game, HC Sean Payton received a call from the officials telling him that they blew the call.
Many athletes in all sports believed the same. Robey-Coleman, himself, thought that it was a pass interference and helmet-to-helmet contact. He believed he should’ve been flagged. It calls to the fact that the review rulebook must changed. But that’s a conversation for another day.
If the play would’ve been called a penalty, the Saints had a 98% chance to win the game. Were the Saints’ robbed of a Super Bowl appearance? Maybe so. Will Sean Payton, Drew Brees, and the rest of the boys get over losing in this fashion? Maybe not. For now, this is the Rams’ win to enjoy,
Rams are Going to the Super Bowl
The Los Angeles Rams are going back to the big game. After the Rams’ win, CB Marcus Peters was able to enjoy a nice bowl of gumbo with Sean Payton. There was the greatest jersey swap of all-time with the referee and Todd Gurley II. The Rams will move onto Atlanta to face off against the New England Patriots. Perhaps the Rams shouldn’t be in this game. However, that’s something we can’t change.
What did you think of the blown call? Should the New Orleans Saints be in the Super Bowl?