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Sean Payton on missed call: ‘I don’t know if there was ever more obvious pass interference’

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

A blatant missed call late in Sunday’s NFC Championship likely cost the New Orleans Saints a trip to the Super Bowl, and head coach Sean Payton wasted no time calling the NFL office.

Greg Zuerlein drilled a 57-yard field goal in overtime to send the Los Angeles Rams to Super Bowl LIII with a 26-23 win over the Saints. Immediately following the game, Payton was on the phone with the league office. It confirmed what the head coach already knew.

Andrew Doak of WWL-TV said that Payton told reporters that the league office admitted to blowing a blatant pass interference call late in the fourth quarter. The no-call set up a fourth down situation, forcing the Saints to settle for a short field goal with over a minute to play.

The Rams were able to drive down the field and tie the game with a 47-yard field goal of their own. Had the pass interference been called, New Orleans would’ve been able to set up a game-winning field goal attempt at the end of regulation.

“Just got off the phone with the league office. They blew the call,” Payton said. “I don’t know if there was ever more obvious pass interference.”

In case you missed the play, here’s the no-call that had all of New Orleans in uproar. Payton, the Saints and the fans obviously have a very strong argument.

The Saints finished the regular season with a 13-3 record and had beaten the Rams in early November, 45-35. But this is the end of the road for New Orleans.

The Rams are headed to the Super Bowl for the first time in nearly two decades.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB