Sports

Saints fans blast refs over missed pass interference call in NFC championship

By Michelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Los Angeles Rams' Nickell Robey-Coleman breaks up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints' Tommylee Lewis during the second half of the NFL football NFC championship game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in New Orleans.

By Michelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Saints fans are crying foul after officials missed what many are calling an obvious case of pass interference in Sunday's NFC championship.

According to The Associated Press, the controversial play came as the Saints and Los Angeles Rams were tied in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. That's when the Rams' Nickell Robey-Coleman "committed a blatant interference penalty with a helmet-to-helmet hit" on the Saints' Tommylee Lewis, the AP reported.

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The Saints then settled for a field goal before the Rams followed suit, tying the game 23-23 and forcing it into overtime. The Rams ultimately won 26-23.

Angry fans blasted officials on social media. Scroll down to see what they were saying:

In case you were looking to find a picture of the ref who blew that call...

Posted by WGNO - News With A Twist on Sunday, January 20, 2019

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According to WVUE, Saints head coach Sean Payton told reporters after the game that a league official admitted the play should have been called pass interference.

"I got away with one tonight," conceded Robey-Coleman, the AP reported.

Read more here or here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group

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