Saints coach Sean Payton says head officials admits ‘messed up’ in NFC Championship

The New Orleans Saints fell short in disappointing fashion in a 26-23 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game.

This was a game that had several big moments that played a major factor in the outcome of the contest that was highlighted by a non-call for pass interference on Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman hitting Saints tight end Tommylee Lewis with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter. Following the game, head coach Sean Payton revealed that he had spoken to the head of officials Alberto Riveron, who told him it was a blown call, according to Mike Triplett of ESPN.

“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 a pivotal play that could have completely shifted the game in their favor that could have sealed their fate. It would have immediately resulted in a first down and allowed them to drain the clock.

Instead, it led to the Saints taking the lead with a field goal that the Rams had enough time to orchestrate a drive to set up a game-tying field goal with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter. This sent the game to overtime where star quarterback Drew Brees had his pass tipped and intercepted. Los Angeles took advantage of the mistake and won the contest on a game-winning 57-yard field goal.

What this does more than anything else is make it a more devastating loss for the Saints to swallow.