The NFL league office has admitted that officials "blew it" during Sunday's NFC Championship Game, but that doesn't change the outcome of the game.
Following the Saints' devastating 26-23 loss in overtime, head coach Sean Payton said he spoke with the league and they admitted to missing several calls on a third-and-10 play from the Rams' 13-yard line, with the score tied 20-20.
In case you missed it, the play in question:
https://twitter.com/_/status/1087122721924886529
"For a call like that not to be made, man, it's just hard to swallow. And then to get a phone call ..." Payton said, trailing off. He added: "We spoke initially, then I called to follow up. And the first thing [head of officials Alberto Riveron] said when I got on the phone -- 'We messed it up.'
"It was simple. They blew the call. They said it should never have not been a call," Payton said of the explanation he received. "They said not only was it interference, it was helmet-to-helmet. They just -- they couldn't believe it."
https://twitter.com/_/status/1087147072967663616
New Orleans settled for a field goal, but there was plenty of time for the Rams to set up kicker Greg Zuerlein with a 48-yard kick to force overtime. In the extra session, Zuerlein connected on a 57-yarder to send Los Angeles to the Super Bowl.
Nickell Robey-Coleman, the corner who got away with murder on the controversial play in the fourth, also admitted that he should've been flagged. After the win, he told Sports Illustrated's Robert Klemko: "Yes, I got there too early. I was beat, and I was trying to save the touchdown."
https://twitter.com/_/status/1087147448185876480
