2018 NFC Championship Game

Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman (white jersey) commits the illegal hit on Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis that was uncalled by the officials

Prior to the controversial play, the game was tied 20–20. The Saints offense had stalled inside the red-zone at the Rams 13-yard line. The play occurred on 3rd down with 10 yards to go for a first down. Had the Saints picked up that first down, they could have run down the clock to under 20 seconds before attempting a field goal, and likely would have punched their ticket to the Super Bowl.[6] Had they failed to convert, they would have left the Rams with plenty of time to drive down the field with a chance to win the game.

The play occurred with 1:49 remaining in the 4th quarter. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, the announcers on the Fox broadcast, had the following commentary:

Buck: "Quick snap, Brees. Pass is...incomplete, no flag for Tommylee Lewis. Nickell Robey-Coleman delivered a hit, and the two officials talk to each other...crowd's going crazy as there's no flag right on the Saints sideline".
Aikman: "Well, if Nickell Robey-Coleman plays the ball, it's an interception! He's probably going the other way with it. I mean the ball's on the other side of Robey-Coleman and...but that should have been a penalty, and Sean Payton is justifiably upset".[7]

The play began at 1:49, with quarterback Drew Brees taking the ball and dropping back to pass. Brees threw the ball toward the right sideline, intended for receiver Tommylee Lewis. Before Lewis could attempt to catch the ball, he was blindsided by Nickell Robey-Coleman around the 6 yard line, knocking Lewis to the ground. No flag was thrown. The Saints head coach Sean Payton was enraged and appealed to the referees for a call, but to no avail. The controversial play appeared to be a violation of two rules from the NFL Rulebook. Rule 8.5.2(a) states that "contact by a player who is not playing the ball that restricts the opponent's opportunity to make the catch" is prohibited. Rule 8.5.2(e) prohibits players from "cutting off the path of an opponent by making contact with him, without playing the ball".[8] Immediately after the play, Robey-Coleman can be seen looking side-to-side, likely anticipating a penalty flag. He stated after the game that he got away with a penalty, telling reporters "Hell yeah, that was a PI. I did my part. Referee made the call. We respect it".[9] Robey-Coleman was also reported as stating that he was intentionally committing a penalty to prevent a touchdown.[10] Lewis, too, was looking for a flag. After the game, he stated "I got up looking for a flag and didn't see one. It was a bad call".[11] Had the penalty been called, the Saints would have been granted a first down on the Rams six yard line with 1:45 left in the game. The Rams had only one timeout left, meaning the Saints likely could have run the clock down to about 10–15 seconds and attempted a short field goal to take the lead. The Saints' win probability was calculated at 98% if pass interference had been called. After the non-call, their win probability dropped to 78%.[12]

Although the Saints were deprived of a crucial touchdown, they did manage a field goal to take the lead 23–20 with 1:41 remaining. The Rams put together a quick nine-play drive and kicked a 48-yard field goal with 15 seconds left in the game to tie the score. The Saints elected to kneel the ball, and send the game into overtime.

The Saints won the overtime coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. They picked up a quick 15 yards on a pass interference call, but the drive stalled. On 2nd and 16, just 1 minute into overtime, Brees was hit on the arm by Rams linebacker Dante Fowler while throwing deep and the ball was intercepted by John Johnson. On the ensuing drive, the Rams drove down the field and Greg Zuerlein kicked the 57-yard game-winning field goal, sending the team to the Super Bowl.

The game received a 27.1 rating and a market share of 49 for television viewing in the US.[13]

A group of Saints fans and season ticket holders upset with the controversial non-call and the subsequent outcome of the game filed a lawsuit against the NFL on January 27, 2019. The lawsuit, filed by Tommy Badeaux and Candis Lambert "individually and on behalf of New Orleans Saints Season Ticket Holders, New Orleans Saints National Fan Base a/k/a The Who Dat Nation and any party with interest that has been affected by the outcome," names Roger Goodell and the NFL as defendants.[3] The lawsuit asks the Louisiana Court "to mandate the extraordinary step of ordering a replay of the NFC Championship Game, and for damages to all putative class member Saints fans. The consequences of ordering a replay of the NFC Championship Game or any portion of the game cannot be overstated". Such an order would have been the first in history. The next day, the NFL publicly acknowledged the missed call for the first time. In the same press release, they asked that the lawsuit be thrown out on the grounds that "this kind of dispute implicates no legally cognizable rights".[21] The court denied the plaintiffs request to replay the game days later. There was also petition on Change.org made demanding that Goodell declare a rematch between the Rams and the Saints on January 27, 2019, the Sunday before the Super Bowl. A total of 760,512 people signed the petition, but no such action was taken.[22]

On January 30, 2019, reports began to surface that the NFL was considering a rule change. Goodell said during his Super Bowl interview that the league would re-examine replay rules, specifically those excluding judgment calls from being reviewable.[23] Further reports indicated that the NFL is considering adopting a rule that would allow a limited basis for coaches to challenge judgment calls, or whether or not a penalty had been called. The rule would include a consequence should the call be upheld.[24]

In March 2019, the NFL proposed a rule for a one-year replay expansion trial. Under the proposed rule, penalties and pass interference calls would be reviewable.[25] On March 27, 2019, NFL owners approved a trial rule change that would allow coaches to challenge pass interference call on both the offense and the defense.[26] The measure was approved by vote of 31–1, with the Cincinnati Bengals being the only team vote against it.[27][28]

Another officiating controversy occurred in a week two matchup of the 2019 season between, again, the Saints and Rams. The game was tied 3–3 with 6:11 left in the 2nd quarter. The Rams were at the Saint's 11 yard line, 3rd and 7. As quarterback Jared Goff attempted a pass, Trey Hendrickson stripped the ball from his hand and Cameron Jordan returned it 87 yards for a touchdown.[29] However, the officials called it an incomplete pass. However, after review, they called it a fumble. They did not credit Jordan with the touchdown, however, stating that the play had already been blown dead.[30][31] The Rams won the game 27–9. Coach Sean Payton said after the game that “When we get poor officiating or we get an awful call like that, we can't control that."[32] Cam Jordan directed a jab at the referees, saying, "I didn't even hear the whistle. I grabbed the ball, 15, 20 yards down the field. Allegedly a whistle was blown— clearly, I mean, a whistle was blown. Normally you let the play happen. Any Foot Locker — I mean, referee — usually tells you, you let the play happen, then you go back and review the play."[33][34]

During the Saints wild card playoff game, the Saints saw their season end due to another controversial pass interference no-call against the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings won the game on a touchdown pass on the opening drive in overtime from Kirk Cousins to Kyle Rudolph, 26–20. However, Rudolph pushed off on Saints cornerback P. J. Williams to gain separation in order to catch the pass and no penalty was called. Had offensive pass interference been called, the Vikings would have faced a 3rd and goal from the 14 and give the Saints a chance to force a field goal that would have kept the game going.

Officials adapted from official NFL game summary.[35]

• 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)