Referee Bill Vinovich's crew missed an obvious pass interference call on Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman in the final minutes of Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints.
The no-call came with 1:45 remaining on a third-and-10 play from the Rams' 13-yard line, with the score tied at 20. Robey-Coleman appeared to run into Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis and make helmet-to-helmet contact before the ball arrived -- sending the raucous Mercedes-Benz Superdome crowd into a chorus of boos when no flag was thrown.
Had interference been called, the Saints would have had a new set of downs and a chance to run the clock down before attempting a short field goal with less than 20 seconds remaining. Instead, the Rams forced overtime and beat the Saints 26-23, advancing to Super Bowl LIII.
People from around the country reacted to the controversial play, including some who photoshopped images:
No flag brother. HH pic.twitter.com/MFcLgCQsry
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) January 21, 2019
I want all the people that tell me to get over the #tuckrule to tell drew Bree's and the @Saints to get over that pass interference that wasn't called that would have most likely ended the game in a saints win. I'll wait
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) January 20, 2019
THIS JUST IN: On the Pontchartrain Causeway... pic.twitter.com/32LNrYw28b
— WWL-TV (@WWLTV) January 20, 2019
Unreal missed call.
— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) January 20, 2019
Lol CHEATERS ... they lose somebody gon lose a job lol
— F L ⚡️ S H (@Melvingordon25) January 20, 2019
On another note. Them 🦓's be on some 🗑. Hate to see that happen in such a great game! 🤦🏾♂️
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 20, 2019
HELLO??? No flag? And that was a pick six.
— Jurassic Myles🦖 (@MylesLGarrett) January 20, 2019
That's an insane no call
— Duane Brown (@DuaneBrown76) January 20, 2019
How about we just take pass interference calls out of the @NFL
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) January 20, 2019
Every P.I call from here on now will be compared to that no call
Smfh
Love it. Pick plays=good play. Anything defense does =penalty
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) January 21, 2019
This one stings...
— Pierre Thomas (@Pierre_Thomas) January 20, 2019
Dear @NFL do not release a press statement saying it should have been pass interference months/years later the same way you missed on @DezBryant catch and fixed it years after all it does is piss people off! 🤷🏾♂️
— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) January 20, 2019
Congrats to the Rams and everything. But there's no way these refs can be in the league next season. I can count multiple games where they have dictated the end of the game and it ain't fair. It's out of control and the consequences are...well there is no consequence. 🤷🏽♂️
— Keenan Allen (@Keenan13Allen) January 20, 2019
There needs to be some form of accountability. NEEDS to be.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 20, 2019
The @Saints got royally SCREWED! That's what I think. Either PI,defenseless rec or illegal contact should've been called. #NFL https://t.co/WjbLkOLdCm
— Boomer Esiason (@7BOOMERESIASON) January 20, 2019
Cam Jordan on the call that cost the Saints the Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/NZMxIe73ht
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) January 20, 2019
Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas weighed in again on Monday:
Rule 17 Section 2 Article 3 @NFL 💔⚜️
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) January 21, 2019
Hey Roger pick up the phone.
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) January 21, 2019