Sean Payton saw the play. He could be seen in heated conversations with the officials.
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But what did they have to say regarding the phantom roughing the passer call that set up a Titans touchdown?
“No explanation,” Saints coach Sean Payton said simply when asked what he was told on the field.
The clearly perturbed Saints coach said he didn't get an answer on the field for why the flag was thrown. He also didn't appear interested in criticizing the officiating after the loss, nor did his players. The on-field official announced that Kaden Elliss was being penalized for a hit to the head of Titans QB Ryan Tannehill.
“There wasn’t an explanation. What do you want me to say? Do you want my opinion on it? No. No opinion on it," Payton said. "Next question.”
It was a pivotal drive in a game that came down to a failed two-point conversion attempt followed by a failed onside kick. Payton's players spoke on the play in a variety of ways, but they too stopped short of criticizing the officiating. Though they all seemed well aware of its impact in such a close game.
Demario Davis had another flag to discuss on that drive, a pass interference penalty on third down that set the Titans up at the goal line. Both were examples of "bang-bang" plays, the linebacker said. Those can always go either way. Davis knows mistakes will be made. It's a tough job, mistakes happen.
"It’s just tough because that’s a situation when points are involved," Davis said. "If it’s out in the middle of the field then it’s less impactful. But when you’ve got a chance, that’s third down, get off the field. And you allow them to get a first down at the 1, 2 yard line. It drastically impacts the game, but it is what it is.”
Overall the penalties were distributed evenly, and often. The Saints finished with 9 penalties for 65 yards, while the Titans had 8 for 49. The final 5 penalty yards against the Saints in the game came on that pivotal 2-point attempt. Adam Trautman moved early on the snap, forcing the Saints back to the 7-yard line for their attempt. It was a "significant" difference, Payton said.
Taysom Hill had initially lined up for the snap before it was pushed back. Trevor Siemian returning for the play from the 7. He took a shot to Mark Ingram, who appeared to have a chance, but It was knocked out by former Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who signed with the Titans last offseason.
The refs made the right call that time, though. And the Saints know fixing their own issues with penalties they are committing is a more pressing concern than grading the refs.
"You’ve just got to get back to the drawing board," linebacker Kwon Alexander said. "It’s not like we’re a horrible team. We’re a legendary team we’ve just got to figure out a way to win, and we’re gonna do that."
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MARCUS DAVENPORT, DE
What was your take on the call?
“I didn’t really care about it, actually. You know, for the most part we’ve just got to play. We can’t control the call. We’ve just got to play full-tilt. And it’s kind of up to them to make the calls. We don’t get a choice in that. So, you know, it’s whatever, we’ve got to move past that.”
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KWON ALEXANDER, LB
“It was very hard. We can’t worry about what the refs call and stuff like that. We’ve got to be able to stop those guys in those situations and we can do that. Just have to get back to the drawing board and figure it out and we’ll be better next week.
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"I didn’t think it was a roughing the passer, but the ref did. So we’ve just got to keep going and keep playing, find a way to get off the field.”
WHAT IS A PLAYER SUPPOSED TO DO IN THAT SITUATION?
“I don’t know what you’re supposed to do. Just keep playing hard, hopefully they won’t call it the next time. That’s all I told him. Just keep playing hard, just keep getting to the quarterback. That’s all you can do.”
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