Packers Can Relate to Saints Ending

This past season, the Green Bay Packers had a game virtually stolen from them by an erroneous call by the officials.  It was week two against the Minnesota Vikings.

Clay Matthews was flagged for roughing the passer on a play that looked to result in an interception by the Packers' defense, which would theoretically have sealed a win.

Yesterday, the New Orleans Saints did not get a pass interference call that seemed as obvious as could be.  That play wasn't the last of the game and New Orleans surely had other chances to win.  But they didn't and the argument about whether that play shifted momentum or deflated the Saints was on.

A week two game doesn't equate to the NFC championship game by any stretch.  But the Packers have been there.

The NFL officials seem to be ending the 2018 season the same way they started: too much of the headline.  And now it's the playoffs and teams are going home because of calls that are or aren't made.

It was worth wondering if this wouldn't play out when the Packers and Vikings ended in a tie after that week two game.  Wondering if the season would come full circle and end amidst controversy of a call or enforcement of a rule.

Blaming the officials often seems to be frowned upon but there were plenty of fans taking both sides after the Saints-Rams game.  So which side are you on?  Is it OK to blame the officials for a loss, short of the Packers-Seahawks debacle in 2012?

-------------------

Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts.  You can follow him on Twitter here

NFL Categories: 
1 points
 

Comments (100)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
edp1959's picture

January 21, 2019 at 07:07 am

There was also a key penalty that extended a scoring drive in the second game. It's apparently roughing the passer if you touch Brady on the shoulder.

17 points
18
1
jeremyjjbrown's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:19 am

If we have to sit through reviews, I'd rather have anything reviewable so we can have a fair game. It's kind of funny how these game swinging non reviewable calls seam to favor the Coast based teams so often.

7 points
7
0
splitpea1's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:16 am

Are you sure he even touched him? It looked like a whiff to me.

We've reached the point where these roughing calls need to be reviewed from headquarters. If the NFL insists on this hyper-sensistivity in regards to the quarterback, they need to make damn sure an infraction occurred before potentially altering the outcome of a game--especially one of the magnitude.

2 points
3
1
Jonathan Spader's picture

January 21, 2019 at 03:49 pm

Easier solution splitpea. Wrap the QB's pads in bubble wrap. Then let defenses actually play once more. For WRs and pass interference put sensors on their arms so anytime they are touched we know which player touched them and when. Then eject that defender for playing defense.~~~~~

Considering both games took overtime to win at least they were evenly matched?

3 points
3
0
TKWorldWide's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:05 pm

Maybe only allow seven players on defense? Play 11 on 7?
And if a team is averaging less than 50 ppg, the next week’s defense can only play six players, and so on??

1 points
1
0
fthisJack's picture

January 21, 2019 at 07:55 am

Saints aren't the first team to get hosed on a call. every game there are a questionable penalties. it's too bad it was in such a big game.

4 points
6
2
TheVOR's picture

January 21, 2019 at 02:58 pm

Exactly, it's the playoffs, stuff happens every week, it's never perfect. Here's a notion for the complaining fan, it shouldn't have come down to worrying about a call, it should come down to dominating your opponent and winning a football game, then if the call doesn't go your way> Meah!

-3 points
0
3
Flow49's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:26 pm

Don’t leave the game up to the refs score touchdowns in the redzone and the rams need 7 or more not 3 to tie. Oh and don’t chuck the ball up for grabs when you have the ball at the 40 in OT. Blown calls will always happen, they tend to evenly disperse over time.

Correct me if I’m wrong but to remember the Saints blasting Favre after the play for four quarters on their way to a super bowl. With a bonus in place for injury. They were fine with no calls then.

0 points
0
0
Lare's picture

January 21, 2019 at 07:57 am

The Saints shouldn't complain, there were at least three missed facemark calls on them that could have also changed the outcome of the game.

That said, the NFL has the technology available to correct the most obvious officiating errors without dragging out the games. If the networks can show multiple replays before the next play, the NFL should be able to do it. With millions of dollars on the line, there's no reason officials should be deciding the outcomes of games.

6 points
9
3
Jonathan Spader's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:21 am

"With millions of dollars on the line, there's no reason officials should be deciding the outcomes of games."

Isn't the millions of dollars the reason the officials determine the outcome of the game? It'll be interesting to see how legalized sports better has an effect on things.

1 points
1
0
blacke00's picture

January 21, 2019 at 08:19 am

If you watched the whole game you would have seen that their multiple "missed" calls" on both sides. How could they make that call when they didn't make similar earlier in the game? The NFL generally has this philosophy that we should let them "play" in the playoffs but not in the regular season. It's a joke!

An aside from this issue.

Does anyone wonder why the patriots keep winning? It isn't Tom Brady or Michels and for that matter even their defense. It was their Offensive Line! Dominant! Brady had all the time in the world. Great rush blocking!
I said before on this site the OL ultimately controls the game. The Packers need to follow this blatant example!

10 points
12
2
HankScorpio's picture

January 21, 2019 at 08:31 am

"I said before on this site the OL ultimately controls the game. The Packers need to follow this blatant example!"

I am completely on board with this sentiment. I'd like to see them add a vet and draft 2 or 3 OL. They must get RG upgraded and should have a solid shot at upgrading LG. Along with a solid swing OT that can step in for Bulaga.

9 points
9
0
Packerpasty's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:00 am

yup....and that was the league leaders in sacks on the other side..amazing job...of course Brady's been there and done that as seen in the drive in O.T.......Mahomes will get his day for sure, now the chiefs have to try to keep their team together too....not many can get such good play out of average guys like "The Hoody" Bill......actually its refreshing for me not to have to hear all about the "next greatest player" in the NFL again today like I've been hearing all year...maybe next year...

0 points
0
0
dobber's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:04 am

"Mahomes will get his day for sure, now the chiefs have to try to keep their team together too."

My guess is that they said the same things about Marino and the Dolphins circa 1985...

5 points
5
0
Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:31 am

Sony Michel rushed 29 times for a 3.9 average.
Burkhead 12 times for a 3.4 yard average.
White 6 times for a 3.8 yard average.
48 rushes for 176 yards and a 3.7 yd. average.

48 rushes because that's what KC gave them would never have happened with MM, and might not ever happen with AR. And NE didn't run out the clock either. I dunno.

Pass blocking was generally very good. 1 QB hit and zero sacks allowed per ESPN. [I was surprised because I thought KC had several QB hits.]

1 points
1
0
Rossonero's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:43 am

Did KC blitz that much though? I felt like they didn't bring nearly as much pressure as the Patriots did. I'd be curious to see how many times the Chiefs blitzed and the Patriots just did a better job picking it up.

0 points
0
0
Leatherhead's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:43 am

Yeah. Lots of people thought Marino would get to the SuperBowl multiple times. He had a great career but he never got back to the Super Bowl.

Mahomes is a very good young QB. But there are other good young QBs. And some good old QBs. Nothing is ever guaranteed.

My question is that since Payton has lost in the playoffs twice, are we going to hear people clamoring for HIS dismissal?

3 points
3
0
edp1959's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:56 am

Putting the bad calls aside. Two things really stood out for me. Brady had all day in the pocket and the separation that the Patriot's receivers had was ridiculous. Was that from scheme, receiver or both? Packers receivers hardly ever had that much separation.

2 points
2
0
Handsback's picture

January 21, 2019 at 08:35 am

The Patriots won because the Chiefs defense couldn't stop them. The Rams won because their defense stopped the Saints and got an interception. Of the four teams, the best two defenses were the Rams and Saints. The penalties probably evened out over the course of both games, but the one that wasn't called against the Rams was so obvious....how could you not see it?
As blacke00 said above, a lot of "let them play" no calls early in the game creates a big issue at the end.

2 points
2
0
Packerpasty's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:04 am

I was thinking that too...when is a call going to pop up at a crucial time? Or in this case a blatant non-call....I realize the refs have a tough job, and I don't think anyone wants to take the human element out of the game but they should be allowed to use the technology available at times..

4 points
4
0
dobber's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:06 am

Your comment on the human element is a good one.

They can't review every play or the game becomes entirely unwatchable rather than just hard to watch...which means you need to pick your spots and live with the rest.

1 points
1
0
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:35 am

Yea, but why haven't the NFL hired full-time refs after all these years?

1 points
1
0
Oppy's picture

January 21, 2019 at 04:13 pm

Knockthesnot, I hear what you’re saying about full time officiating, but ithe NFL is a different beast than the NBA or MLB.. I just don’t know how you hire full time officiating crews when there are only 15 or 16 games in a given week, and 14-15 of them are played on the same day in different cities.

The obstacle is that a crew of nfl officials can’t call 3-5 games a week (or more) as in other sports. There’s just not enough work for “full time” refs.

0 points
0
0
TKWorldWide's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:10 pm

If they’re willing to pay me upwards of $100K for 17 weekends of work, I’d quit my job and consider myself a “full-time” ref!

2 points
2
0
jeremyjjbrown's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:24 am

This, I'm sick of blaming the refs when the NFL creates the environment that they work in. How can anyone consistently ref a game when here are so many plays in a game that are non-reviewable:

- Penalties. Under no circumstance can a penalty call be reviewed.
- Forward progress. It's a judgement call on the field by the officials.
- A fumble after the whistle has blown. At that point, the play is considered dead and can't be reviewed.
- Any kick going above the uprights
- Inadvertent whistles
- Recovery of a fumble in the field of play

2 points
2
0
Leatherhead's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:45 am

Two best defenses according to what? NFL ranks the Patriots 7th, New Orleans 14, and the Rams and Chiefs below that.

0 points
0
0
dobber's picture

January 21, 2019 at 12:11 pm

Yeah, people need to cite the basis they're working from. You're working on points. I suspect he's working on yards.

1 points
1
0
TKWorldWide's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:11 pm

Scotland Yards, that is.

1 points
1
0
pacman's picture

January 21, 2019 at 08:44 am

I missed that part of the game but the replays were sure clear. I don't see why they don't extend the challenge flags to penalties. Add 1 more flag. The main problem is that there are more blown penalty calls than questionable catch calls. It will make the refs look real bad. And sometimes they are!

OT: But my take on this weeks playoffs (and most of them) was that the Packers this year were not in the same league as these teams. The tackling, the hustle, the quick slant throws. Did everyone notice how quickly Brady got the ball out and not going long? The more I thought about the more I got mad at AR and the play calling.

9 points
9
0
Packerpasty's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:04 am

great idea!

0 points
0
0
dobber's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:07 am

At one point in the Saints game, the announcers commented on the short huddles and the desire by both teams to get the ball in play quickly, too.

2 points
2
0
jeremyjjbrown's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:30 am

"Did everyone notice how quickly Brady got the ball out and not going long?"

Yes, I've noticed this for years now.

I also suspect that when Brady does hold the ball McDaniels starts calling quick passes, screens and runs to speed up Brady's internal clock. Not like a punishment, but just to use what he controls to bring Brady's timing back.

2 points
2
0
Mojo's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:30 am

Kind of like pacman's idea to allow 1 more challenge flag for those instances like last nights Saints game or the phantom roughing call on KC against Brady in the Patriots game. Plays that are currently unchallengeable.

Plays like those (and I'll add the CM3 roughing call in the Minny game, although the NFL brass actually had the cahonas to back up that call).

Current unchallegeable calls like that often decide games just as much as anything else that is challengeable. Certainly you'd have to limit the amount of challenges, maybe somehow integrate it into the current structure.

The league office might actually appreciate not having to tell a team "oops, we blew that, sorry about flushing your whole season down the toilet".

1 points
1
0
dobber's picture

January 21, 2019 at 12:15 pm

I just don't want penalties to be challenge-able. It completely disrupts the ability of an official to control a game...those of us who watch a lot of hockey know part of what I mean. The flow of a game and the degree to which officials decide to 'call things close' or 'let the guys play' can be completely unbalanced by a guy at a screen in NY. Marking the ball, catch or no catch, is it a fumble/TD: great. Not penalties, though.

1 points
1
0
Mojo's picture

January 21, 2019 at 01:34 pm

That's why any challenge system would have to be severely limited. Maybe instead of just allowing coaches the ability to toss the hanky on what the NFL considers challengable plays, allow them once a game to challenge anything. Keep the total amount of challenges the same. Maybe limit that to just the playoffs. It would allow egregious currently non-challengable plays to be corrected.

If not, just chuck all challenges since that already disrupts the officials control of the game.

1 points
1
0
CheesyTex's picture

January 21, 2019 at 02:52 pm

How can we get Mojo on NFL Rules Committee?

0 points
0
0
croatpackfan's picture

January 21, 2019 at 08:45 am

I think it is OK to put blame on referees. They are paid for the job, didn't they?

And I'm not on any side in this issues, because there is bone-head calls all through the season, but that is why NFL pick "the best" crews for post season. Are they?

I know the game is fast, that is the reason many plays are not called or calls are bad. But, how anybody can not see that collision was helmet to helmet... is inexcusable. Sorry, those guys who act as referees should be concentrated on the game, I suppose...

1 points
2
1
Since'61's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:18 am

Whenever you compete at any organized level you play to win. As a player or a coach or even a fan you expect that the game will be played fairly. That is why the officials are there. You never like to lose but you can accept when the other team wins by playing better or even one of your own players dropping a pass or a fumble or a missed tackle but you cannot accept the officials taking the game out of your hands.

When the officials fail as badly as they did in the Saints game you need to ask why are they there? Yes, you can argue that theoretically you can call a penalty on every play. But there is a big difference between clutching and grabbing and a blatant pass interference/leading with the helmet penalty. Either penalty could have been called on the play in the Saints game. There is no excuse for the officials not making that call.

Given today's technology there is no reason why a blatant non-call should not be overturned by the officials in NY or LA or wherever they are. That non-call cost the Saints their season and it is wrong and unfair. For the NFL to allow that to happen brings everything into question including the legitimacy of their ultimate SB champion (now almost virtually guaranteed to the Cheatalots again).

For the playoffs at least and for the integrity of the league the NFL should have a rule that allows the officials in NY or wherever to call down to the game, review the play and over rule the call or non-call on the field. What is the point of the rules if the league will not enforce them?

Let's sum up. The league does not know what a tackle is, what a catch is or obviously what DPI is any longer. With those obvious questions how does the league or anyone, including the fans legitimize their conference or their league champion? At this point what is the point playing? And for us as fans what is the point of watching? How can this can be considered a professional sport when the officiating is nothing close to professional? The league just keeps moving closer and closer to becoming impossible to watch or even care about. Imagine if this happened in a Packers playoff game!!! Thanks, Since '61

11 points
11
0
Spock's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:20 am

Agree with everything you're saying '61. Although I don't think anyone here needs to, "Imagine if this happened in a Packers playoff game!!!". We all (although we've tried to block the memory) remember the "Fail Mary" game. :(

2 points
2
0
TheBigCheeze's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:25 am

...it's not a question as to whether the officials are professional....the NFL is a fast-paced game, and getting faster....it's understandable that the officials can miss some penalties.....it's really a matter of what's reviewable.....challenge rule should simply include EVERYTHING.....any play, any call, any non-call......ANYTHING.........if a team has time outs available....they should be able to challenge anything......

3 points
3
0
Bure9620's picture

January 21, 2019 at 12:11 pm

Solid logic

0 points
0
0
Ustabeayooper's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:19 am

Sean Payton has only himself to blame. The pass play on 1st down with 2 minutes left was the biggest blunder since Wilson's pass on the goal line in the SB. Instead of running the ball and forcing the Rams to use their 2 remaining TO, they ended up giving the Rams the ball with 1:44 and a TO left. Moving the ball down the field with a timeout left is a lot easier than moving it with less than a minute and no TO. Got cute and got burned. Maybe he can commiserate with Seattle's coach.

4 points
4
0
Since'61's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:43 am

You may be correct about Peyton’s 1st down play call but that is why getting the calls correct is so important. Peyton or any coach cannot possibly expect that his team is going to be so blatantly robbed by the officials 2 plays later. You cannot play the game with the expectation that the officials are going to miss a call like that anymore than you can expect that you are going to fumble the ball if he called a running play or a pick on a passing play.

Again, you are operating with the expectations that the game will be played and called fairly. That call should be made. It is the right call and not a questionable call. That is why it is unfair. Who knows, maybe the Saints don’t score a TD or even miss the FG even with the call, but at least then they lose because of their own failures and not the officials.

The Saints should be going to the SB, not the Rams. The numerous failures of the NFL this season just highlight how much of a joke the NFL has become. The Saints/Rams game was the first football I watched since the Packers season ended. I missed the 1st quarter of the game as it was. After seeing that travesty I did not watch the Pats/Chiefs and I will not watch the SB. I’m done until September when the Packers 2019 season starts. The league, the games and whoever becomes the champion is a total joke. Thanks, Since ‘61

-1 points
2
3
PAPackerbacker's picture

January 21, 2019 at 04:05 pm

I agree coach. The officiating in the NFL is horrible. Maybe the Saints don't score a TD or maybe they miss the field goal. But it would be by their own hand, not at the hands of inadequate officiating. The Saints were robbed of their opportunity to run the clock down. And either win it or lose it by their own doing. Inexcusable not to make that call.

2 points
2
0
4thand10's picture

January 22, 2019 at 06:54 pm

Especially plays where the football is involved .... it’s in the air, there are to guys competing....there should have been eyes where the football was...I have no idea how the could have missed that call. Saints got screwed.

Then in the Pats game.... the “Edleman touch, no touch” on the kick return

1) Edleman went for the ball ( what the hell was he thinking?)
2) the ruling ON the field was that he touched it
3) after some bitching... NE gets a free review of it
4) the officials overturn their own ruling that he touched it, and decided he didn’t

Seems to me other teams don’t get the luxury of that type of review.

1 points
1
0
dobber's picture

January 21, 2019 at 12:21 pm

YES!
YES!
YES!

...and moving it down the field with a TO, 1:40, AND only needing a FG to tie.

If you decide you need to throw the ball in that case, at least throw it in the endzone and try to go up 7, forcing the Rams to punch it in to tie. The dinky short pass did nothing but cut his own feet out from underneath him. If Thomas catches that ball, yes, it's essentially a run play and maybe he scores...but the risk was too great. Throwing on first down and NOT trying to score was a boneheaded call compared to an inside run call.

0 points
0
0
CheesyTex's picture

January 21, 2019 at 03:02 pm

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy than "Bountygate" Peyton.

That said, IMO the official(s) who blew the call should never see an NFL field again.

2 points
2
0
CheesyTex's picture

January 21, 2019 at 03:02 pm

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy than "Bountygate" Peyton.

That said, IMO the official(s) who blew the call should never see an NFL field again.

0 points
0
0
TKWorldWide's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:15 pm

But I thought “foot on the gas”, “killer instinct”, “being aggressive”, “playing to win, rather than not to lose” was ALWAYS the right strategy!
~~~~~~~~~~

1 points
1
0
egbertsouse's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:23 am

Goodwill needs to fix the officiating. The games are getting unwatchable. I sit around wondering g what the zebras will do to f up the game. And they never disappoint me. Not to mention stopping the game for 5 minutes during the most exciting part to have a confab about whether the clock is OK.

1 points
1
0
egbertsouse's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:24 am

Goodell. It auto-corrected me again.

1 points
1
0
Spock's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:28 am

egbertsouse, Here's a suggestion: Highlight the name Goodell after you've typed it, right click, and choose "add to dictionary". That should solve your auto-correct issue. I typically add the contributors I respond to often into my "add to dictionary' for this reason. :)

0 points
0
0
Lphill's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:29 am

fan duel was the winner yesterday.

2 points
2
0
WinUSA's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:37 am

Saints victim of a heinous call. Blatant incompetency by the officiating crew. Literally cost the game for them. If you have read my post throughout the season I have screamed about the reffing all year long. The refs have no culpability-whatsoever!!!! The only good thing about the call is that it moved the Pack up 2 picks in the draft. Who knows..this could be huge especially if the Pack wants to move up to the top five position. Go refs!!!!!!!! :9).

2 points
2
0
Since91's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:03 am

This league is turning into a joke!

0 points
0
0
Johnblood27's picture

January 21, 2019 at 01:40 pm

The joke is on us, and it has been for quite a few years now.

I get panned regularly whenever I say the same things you are saying now Since 61, only my complete disillusionment with the NFL as a football league started quite a while ago, actually after my 2 year venture into participation in fantasy football leagues way back in the early 2000's.

The league has changed the game and prostituted themselves to gambling at the expense of alienating fans that grew up on the NFL from its TV beginnings in the 1960's through the "good" rule changes of the 70's that brought the game from its unsophisticated roots to a more polished athletic contest onto the 90's where greater athleticism and player safety dictated alterations to create a competitive controlled violence event.

I get change, it is inevitable, but change being driven from within is evolution and can be good, change driven from outside (Goodell, not a football guy) is revolution and that my friend is to be resisted and fought with everything you have if you value what you had.

I cannot disengage my Packer faithfulness, however my love for the NFL and its brand of football has evaporated almost completely.

5 points
5
0
Since'61's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:30 pm

John - like you my disillusion with the NFL goes back quite a while, at least 10-15 years now. It's gets worse with every season.

I have reached the point where I only watch Packers games. I have not watched a complete game played by another team since the 2009 season. The last Super Bowl that I have watched in its entirety was the Packers SB victory in 2010. I will not waste my time watching this years game either.

The quality of play and the officiating have made the game a farce. Greedy owners, rules that either no one knows or that are not properly enforced, over hyped players, ridiculous first down and sack celebrations, end zone dance competitions, kneeling controversies, and announcers who don't what they are watching. A very sad and frustrating situation.

I agree completely with your last 2 paragraphs. I've been posting the same all the way back to the Jersey AL AllGBP blog. I'm afraid that it's going to get worse before it gets better, if it ever does. Thanks, Since '61

1 points
1
0
CAG123's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:08 am

I think it’s even worse when right after the game or sometimes during the refs say “Yeah we missed that call”! I’d honestly rather not know if I’m the coach even the player that did it just knew a flag was coming. No need to rub salt in my wound by telling me y’all missed the call.

1 points
1
0
SJ EC's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:12 am

Man, that was incredibly difficult to see happen. I have no love lost for Sean P., but to have a game ultimately decided by an officiating crew is absurdly unfair. This happens way too often to simply chalk it up to a fluke. I don’t know what the correct answer is, but the NFL needs to take a long hard look at itself and figure this out.

1 points
1
0
Spock's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:39 am

Sean Payton and Mark Murphy are, I believe, both on the Rules Committee for the NFL. I imagine some changes will be voted on before this next season. Personally, I've never understood why a blatantly bad call/non-call penalty call has never been review-able. So much of the fairness of the game can be wiped out by these type of game-changing issues and takes too much away from a deserving team's efforts.

2 points
2
0
stockholder's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:50 am

The Ruling: Uncatchable Ball. No penalty.

-1 points
0
1
Lare's picture

January 21, 2019 at 12:44 pm

I was wondering about that. The angles I saw didn't show how high the ball was and if it was catchable.

1 points
1
0
Mojo's picture

January 21, 2019 at 01:22 pm

You can see from the angle slightly behind Lewis that he was in a good position to make the play on a pass that would have been right on the money had the Rams player not barreled into him.

I think stockholder was being facetious because the pass became uncatchable due to the fact Lewis was doing a 360 in the air after being bulldozed by Robey-Coleman

5 points
5
0
Bert's picture

January 21, 2019 at 03:06 pm

Kind of ironic in a way but if Robey-Coleman defends the pass correctly and turns around to see the ball he should have had an easy interception with nothing but open field in front of him. So Coleman screws up and misses an easy pick 6 and then creates a huge mess by crashing into the receiver. In reality he should've been a hero if he just his job correctly. It was the poorly thrown pass from Brees, behind his receiver, that should have been intercepted, that started this chain of events.

1 points
1
0
Since'61's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:35 pm

Mojo - I think that you are correct. None of the officials gave the signal for an uncatchable, at least none that I saw and the announcers did not mention that uncatchable ball was the ruling. Which even if they did that was incorrect as well.

BTW, the Rams DB commented that he deliberately interfered with the WR not only to prevent a catch but possibly to prevent a TD. Better to take a DPI then give up a TD. Imagine how the Saints feel after hearing the DB admit to committing DPI? Thanks, Since '61

0 points
0
0
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

January 21, 2019 at 10:53 am

Yea, the Viking game, the Seattle game with Golden Tate and back-up temporary refs, and the 49 game with Terrel Owen's.

I am sure there are others no doubt!

1 points
1
0
Johnblood27's picture

January 21, 2019 at 01:44 pm

TO was a TOol fo sho, but the blame goes on Jerry GOAT Rice who clearly fumbled the ball to the Packers prior to the TOol catch.

2 points
2
0
TheBigCheeze's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:05 am

...I have been saying this for years.....challenge rule should allow to challenge ANYTHING......any play, any call, any non-call.....ANYTHING....if you have time outs.....you can challenge anything.....

5 points
6
1
Curt's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:09 am

Guys - it did happen to the Packers in a playoff game. Jerry Rice fumble recovered by GB just before SF scored winning TD. just google "jerry rice fumble packers"

NFL has little interest in getting it right - they are printing there own money. No upside.

Not much has changed in years - still can't even give both teams an opportunity in OT!

3 points
3
0
Since'61's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:49 am

Yes, but there was no booth review or challenges allowed during that season. That play with Rice was why challenges and booth reviews were brought back into the league.

And yes that call was wrong and unfair as well. Thanks, Since ‘61

1 points
1
0
dobber's picture

January 21, 2019 at 12:26 pm

"Not much has changed in years - still can't even give both teams an opportunity in OT!"

I have no problem with the OT rule. You want to touch the ball in OT? Don't let the other team score a TD. Play some defense, earn a shot to score.

1 points
3
2
pacman's picture

January 21, 2019 at 02:02 pm

Yes for us old timers who like to see defense. But in today's game it makes little sense. Each side should get the same number of touches. Otherwise, just flip the coin to see who wins!

0 points
1
1
TKWorldWide's picture

January 22, 2019 at 07:04 pm

@pacman: the most time efficient suggestion yet!

0 points
0
0
Mojo's picture

January 21, 2019 at 02:08 pm

Neither do I dobber. What is the percentage of drives that end up in TD's anyway? All you got to do is hold a team out of the endzone and the advantage of OT rules swings to your team.

The first team to get the ball in OT actually has a lot of pressure on it. Do you go for it on fourth when you're in FG range? Because even if you do hit the FG the other team knows exactly what they need to do and will have four downs to do it. Turn the ball over like the Saints did yesterday and you're in big trouble.

In college, the coin-toss winner always plays D first. There's an advantage to that.

IMO, if you can't keep the opponent from driving the field and out of your endzone, just like in regular time, then you deserve to lose.

3 points
3
0
cheesehead1's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:20 am

Unbelievable no call in the Saints game and likewise a terrible call for roughing the passer on Brady. I’m tired of protecting these primadona QB’S and that includes Rodgers. I realize it’s easy to criticize the officials as it’s an extremely tough job to say the least, but they have to be held accountable. Also, as much as I dislike the Patriots, their OLine has been outstanding.

2 points
2
0
Leatherhead's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:49 am

Since the dawn of time, bad calls have been a part of sporting events. Just like bad plays by the players and bad coaching by the coaches.

That's why you never want to let it come down to to that.

2 points
2
0
CAG123's picture

January 21, 2019 at 12:15 pm

That’s such a generic statement to make these are professionals playing at the highest level. It’s not like they count on a call going their way when they draw a play up this isn’t boxing where you can let off the gas and leave it in the hands of a judge.

3 points
3
0
LeotisHarris's picture

January 21, 2019 at 08:30 pm

Man, you got that right, Old School. We need to look no further than when Hippodamia, before a race, persuaded her father's charioteer to replace the bronze axle pins of the king's chariot with pins made of wax. Naturally, during the race, the wax melted. The king fell from his chariot and was killed. Refs totally missed all these shenanigans in what is commonly referred to in Greek Mythology as Zeus' Boner. Pelops was then proclaimed the winner of the chariot race (no video review back then), and married Hippodamia.

After his victory, Pelops organized chariot races as thanksgiving to the gods and as funeral games in honor of King Oenomaus, in order to be purified of his death. He served on the Competiton Committee as well.

4 points
4
0
CAG123's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:15 pm

Maaaaannnn lol

1 points
1
0
Rebecca's picture

January 22, 2019 at 04:14 pm

That was a huge “boner” on Zeus’s part. That boner will be forever remembered by the Zeus fandom. Epic!

1 points
1
0
TKWorldWide's picture

January 22, 2019 at 07:10 pm

I tip my cap to you, sir!
We bask in your brilliance.

1 points
1
0
Rossonero's picture

January 21, 2019 at 11:49 am

Saints got royally screwed yesterday. All I can say is at least it wasn't us. Aren't the officiating guys in New York able to overrule a decision on the field? Because if they don't have that power, they should.

Yesterday it was blatant.

Each year, 1-2 teams seem to be sacrificial lambs for the NFL at hands of mind boggling calls. Packers examples:

2012 - The Fail Mary. Unfortunately for us, the Packers were the sacrificial lambs and this was the moment that the lingerie refs finally had to go.

2017 - The "Aaron Rodgers Rule," as its casually referred to. Rodgers gets driven to the ground, breaks his collarbone and our season effectively ends in October. Then in the off-season, a new rule is made.

2018 - Clay Matthews gets flagged for sacking the QB on a textbook tackle. This costs us a Win and causes mass confusion about what is and what isn't a tackle.

1 points
1
0
Curt's picture

January 21, 2019 at 12:09 pm

I seem to hear the "preferential" calls for GB around here (bore fan territory) all the time --- but seems to me it is usually GB on the bad side so often they change the rules --- SF Rice fumble leads to replay the next year --- fail mary leads to settlement with refs the next day --- blatant late driving tackle leads to new rule the next year--- Matthews "sack" leads to refs ignoring the new "rule"immediately.

5 points
5
0
Oppy's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:44 pm

That hit on Rodgers in 2017 was so ho-hum everyday football I can't believe anyone reacted to it at all.

Rodgers keeps his arms and hands in like you're supposed to instead of trying to break his fall, and nobody says a word about that play. Instead, he basically puts himself in harms way and breaks his collar bone. Suddenly, an every day tackle is "Driving into the ground" and the league over-reacts by basically outlawing touching the QB in 2018.

Gah.. how ridiculous.

1 points
1
0
Mojo's picture

January 21, 2019 at 12:04 pm

Well after blowing the CM3 call earlier in the season, the NFL did GB a solid by blowing the Saints call. Now the Pack/Saints first round pick moves up to 30 instead of 31 or 32.

3 points
3
0
Qoojo's picture

January 21, 2019 at 12:22 pm

My first thought was, "Welcome to the officiating crew that the Packers saw so much of last season".

Now that the patsies are in, I can officially say "**** football till the draft".

2 points
2
0
Irish_Cheesehead's picture

January 21, 2019 at 01:02 pm

I was feeling for the Saints fans yesterday thinking back to the Packers-Seahawks game in 2012. The Saints should have had that game wrapped up and they let it slip away. Never leave the game in the refs hands. The only good thing is that it wiped the smug look off Sean Payton's face. I felt bad for Drew Brees, though.

Looks like we are picking at 30!

3 points
3
0
Ryan3468's picture

January 21, 2019 at 01:32 pm

January 11, 2010 Packers, Cardinals and the no call face mask is still more heart wrenching.

3 points
3
0
4thand10's picture

January 22, 2019 at 09:18 pm

That was ridiculous.....still pissed off about that one.

0 points
0
0
EddieLeeIvory's picture

January 21, 2019 at 01:40 pm

Officiating is subpar period.
The Seahawks were offsides on Rodgers 1st Interception, to Davante picked off by Sherman in the end zone. Like Dee Ford last night. One was called, one not. The one that saved the game for the Patriots WAS. Seattle was gifted an Int at our expense.

Brady fumbled too, Charles Woodson knows.

The Saints benefitted big time in 2009 to bounty past the Vikings. I was glad about that. Now the Saints are on the flip side.

Refs are piss poor. As fast as possible, we should utilize HD, Slow-Mo replays to fix their pathetic, game-altering, season-altering, legacy-altering inexcusable mistakes.

Oh, Jerry Rice still fumbled!

0 points
0
0
Mojo's picture

January 21, 2019 at 04:06 pm

The thing about the Robey-Coleman play was, unlike so many other plays, it was so out in the open and egregious.

Coleman even said he was going full bore to prevent the touchdown and yes that meant doing everything he could to prevent the completion. He admitted he committed PI on purpose to prevent the score.

Was there anyone who saw the play live not expecting a flag?

As Jackie Chiles might say about the non-call, " It's outrageous, egregious, preposterous"

One thing about an NFL playoff bad-call, non-call is that they're playing single elimination games. Unlike other sports where you might have a seven game series, in the NFL one playoff loss and you're done. No chance for things to even out in that season. Might take several decades for that, but by then half the fans might be dead.

I had no skin in the NO game. Don't really care of the four teams left who wins it. Just glad Minney, da Bears, Cowboys and Seattle are out. But after watching for 3 to 4 hours I had to wonder why? What a waste of time when the officials can arbitrarily determine who wins or loses. I'm not watching necessarily the better team win, but the luckier team.

1 points
1
0
LASVEGAS-TOM's picture

January 21, 2019 at 03:40 pm

When are you guy's going to WAKE UP!! The line was NO -3. There was NO WAY NO was going to cover that spread. Can't you see it. What is it going to take? A few here know, but most of you don't. Keep thinking what you want. The games are controlled according to the Gambling. That was the reason for the Non-Call.

In the Pats game. The Number was 56. They worked like Hell to get that over.

-1 points
2
3
LeotisHarris's picture

January 21, 2019 at 08:36 pm

I'm awake, little buddy. When are you going to stop typing in all caps, and do something besides breathe casino air and take up space?

2 points
4
2
TKWorldWide's picture

January 22, 2019 at 07:16 pm

WWHD:
What would Hippodamia do?

0 points
0
0
LASVEGAS-TOM's picture

January 21, 2019 at 03:46 pm

P.S. I had that Over, because I knew most would go Under. That's a fairly High Number, even for those 2 teams. My wife called me Crazy, all the way to the 4th quarter. I finally said, Still like the Under. She said "You were Right Again" As Usual.
LVT

1 points
1
0
LeotisHarris's picture

January 21, 2019 at 08:37 pm

You must be very proud. I guess not all heroes wear capes.

0 points
3
3
PAPackerbacker's picture

January 21, 2019 at 03:47 pm

By not calling that blatant pass interference call and or personal foul on the very same play, the officials took away the chance for the Saints to run the clock down before attempting a last second field goal or a chance at a touchdown, with little time remaining in regulation. Absolutely unforgivable for any NFL official to ignore such a blatant rule infraction. It was an easy call to make and the penalty should have been enforced. The Saints were robbed of a chance to win the game on their own play calling and clock management skills. Even Coleman knew it was a penalty. He was looking for the flag after the hit. The Rams were handed a gift by the officials and a dagger to the Saints.

3 points
3
0
Since'61's picture

January 21, 2019 at 09:45 pm

Get the win for the East and West coast teams to get the highest possible TV ratings for the Super Bowl from the two largest TV markets remaining in the tournament. Between the TV ratings and Vegas there is too much money at stake and therefore no chance for a legitimate championship in the NFL any longer. Thanks, Since '61

1 points
1
0
LASVEGAS-TOM's picture

January 22, 2019 at 10:14 pm

Since61, I was at Paris the last 2 days, & didn't get a chance to respond. I've been trying not to comment on the games. No one here, or very few will even agree with the statement you just made. Who ever this IDIOT is who doesn't like me typing in Caps, STICK IT WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE. I'm glad you can see something is wrong in Denmark. I don't know about TV Ratings? I never factored that into my thinking, but you could be right on that. The fact is that the Biggest Money SB is LA & the Pats. If the Good fans on here would bet a few games, they might see what's going on. You know I play against the money, at least I try to. I lost the NO game, thinking all that California money would show up for LA. I knew the biggest SB would be LA & the Pats, but when you bet, you have to bet the same way every time like it or not. I still think the money was on LA in that game, but maybe because of the 47-3 score it wasn't. I can see it now, but I couldn't before the game. It's not easy, but let me say, You are on the Right Track. I'm glad someone here can see what's going on, & isn't afraid to post it. I've always enjoyed your posts. You've said you enjoyed some of mine, & I've always considered you a friend, even if we disagree on some things.
LVT

1 points
1
0
LASVEGAS-TOM's picture

January 22, 2019 at 10:45 pm

P.S. Believe it or not, The Pats organization is selling T Shirts the say:

"Bet Against Us"

They showed one before the game. Interesting, You Think??

LVT

1 points
1
0