In what was an instant classic NFC Championship game, the Los Angeles Rams were able to edge out the New Orleans Saints 26-23 in Overtime, down in Louisiana Sunday afternoon.
The Drew Brees led Saints were able to jump out to a 13-0 lead over Los Angeles in the first quarter of the contest, starting with a 37-yard field goal by Wil Lutz, after their 11-play opening drive stalled at the Rams 19-yard line.
The insuing Rams possession ended fairly quickly, as Jared Goff was intercepted by Demario Davis. New Orleans, however was unable to find the endzone and had to settle for yet another Wil Lutz field goal, this time a 29-yarder.
Los Angeles was unable to do anything offensively in the first quarter, and the main reason was the crowd noise that the New Orleans faithful brought. It was a deffening roar the entire duration of Rams possessions, and it caused their offensive to be completely inept. As reported by Westwood One's Ed Werder, which was heard right here on 97.3 The Fan, Jared Goff tried three different helmets in the first quarter in order to get the communication system to work, so he culd get the play call from the sideline. Later in the game, Goff needed to run out wide to the right to talk to one of his wide receivers which caused the Rams to burn a timeout. The Rams looked rattled as their second possession ended in a quick three and out and a punt back to the Saints, and Drew Brees with 5:35 left in the first quarter.
On New Orleans next possession, they were able to orchastrate an 8 play, 68-yard drive on the backs of their tight ends, as the first play of the drive started with a 24-yard completion to Josh Hill, and the final play of the drive ended in a 5-yard touchdown reception by Garrett Griffin, which was his first reception on the season.
13-0 New Orleans after the first quarter.
The first half of the NFC Championship was a tale of two different quarters, and it started with a gutsy decision by Los Angeles to run a fake punt in their own territory. Facing a 4th and 5 from their own 30-yard line, the Rams called upon Johnny Hekker, their punter, to make the most crucial play for the Rams so far in the game and he delivered as he hit Los Angeles corner back, Sam Shields, on a comeback route that was good for 12-yards and a first down.
The Master of Fake Punts @JHekker does it again! --First down, #LARams--: #LARvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/x79XAO1zeV
— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2019 A couple plays later, they were on the board with a Greg Zuerlein 36-yard field goal.The Rams would add a touchdown right before half on a 6-yard scamper by Todd Gurley, after a huge 36-yard reception by Brandin Cooks.
Both teams would enter the locker room with the Saints leading 13-10.
In the second half both teams would score touchdowns, and the Rams would add a field goal to tie the game up at 20-20, and this is where the chaos starts.
The first questionable call was Rams Head Coach Sean Mcvey decinding to kick a field goal on 4th and goal from the 1-yard line instead of trying to go for a go-ahead touchdown. At the time of the decision the Rams were down 20-17 with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter. A touchdown would force Drew Brees to drive down the field and score a touchdown to take the lead with 5 minutes left, whereas a field goal by Los Angeles would allow Brees to only have to drive down to field goal range with plenty of time and three timeouts. Ultimately, the field goal ended up being the correct decision but a tough decision at the time nonetheless.
With the game tied at 20, Drew Brees had 5 minutes and all three timeouts to try and drive his team down the field and kick a field goal to win and punch their ticket to Super Bowl LIII. It was not long before Brees had his team in Wil Lutz range, as he hit Ted Ginn Jr. for a 43-yard reception down to the Los Angeles 13-yard line with 1:58 left in the game, and the Rams only having two chances to stop the clock. BALLGAME. Right?
Wrong.
Out of the two-minute warning, New Orleans decided to go to the air and Brees was unable to connect with Michael Thomas, stopping the clock at 1:55 and preserving, an ever so valuable, Rams timeout. Before another play was even ran for the Saints, they are forced to burn a timeout of their own due to not being aligned right. Secdond down resulted in a Alvin Kamara rush for no gain and a Rams timeout. With 1:48 on the clock and the Saints facing a 3rd and 10, New Orleans decided to go to the air again and were again unable to make a connection, but this time for good reason. As Brees delivered a strike to Tommylee Lewis down the right sideline, Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman flat out decleats Lewis before the ball could even come close to touching either Robey-Coleman or Lewis. Not only did Robey-Coleman not try to make a play on the ball he spears Lewis with a vicious hit. Lets just say if he was playing college football he would have been ejected for the hit. Was it dirty? No. Was it pass interference? Absolutley.
Nickell Robey-Coleman sent the Rams to the Super Bowl #USCtotheNFL pic.twitter.com/Ngkcn1EEuV
— Barstool SC (@BarstoolSC) January 20, 2019Saints have to settle for a field goal, and the Rams escape the situation only being down 3 instead of 7, and still holding a timeout with a plentiful 1:41 left in the game. Time for young Sean Mcvey and Jared Goff to put up or shut up, and boy did they ever.
Los Angeles led by Jared Goff marched down the field and let Greg the Leg Zuerlein take them to overtime with a 48-yard game tying field goal.
23-23 headed to sudden death.
New Orleans won the toss and the ball. Could Drew Brees put a drive together and score a touchdown to take his Saints to the Super Bowl for the second time?
Facing a 2nd and 16 from his own 34-yard line, Brees dropped back to pass and was hit as he threw in the direction of Michael Thomas. After some hand fighting between Thomas and Rams cornerback John Johnson, Johnson starts to fall on his back and the ball that was tipped as Brees threw, falls like a gift from the lord above right into Johnson's belly for an interception. A truley remarkable play, that is up there with the David Tyree Super Bowl catch for the New York Giants.
The @RamsNFL defense forces the INTERCEPTION!Huge turnover in OT. #LARams #NFLPlayoffs--: #LARvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/Bn54AaPEBR
— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2019After a couple plays, the Rams turned to their "Leg" again, and Greg the leg Zuerlein answered again, this time a 57-yard, overtime winning, Super Bowl ticket punching, field goal.
Greg Zuerlein sends the @RamsNFL to the @SuperBowl!!!!!#LARams #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/vJ9goPzit2
— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2019Los Angeles 26
New Orleans 23
Final.
A drastic change of events after the Saints were knocking on the door with less than 2 minutes to play, ending in a no call pass interference which was a crucial part of this football game. Like in any football game, however, it is not defined by one play. Saints fans that argue they were robbed and the league is fixed can go back in the game to only scoring field goals in their first two possesions. They can also reflect on the fact that New Orleans did not burn any clock in the final set of downs by the goaline, and how they left the Rams with 1:41 on the clock and somehow still one timeout. It does not matter in the end, Los Angeles is going to the Super Bowl and their fans deserve it as you can tell from the excitement:
This is why they moved TWO (2) football teams to LA. You can’t fake this kind of passion pic.twitter.com/EJq9N2XG4u
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 20, 2019Ok...so they are not that excited, but Los Angeles vs New England in Atlanta for Super Bowl LIII should be a good one, and you can listen to it right here on 97.3 The Fan.
Full Box Score of the game.
Local Stat: Mount Miguel's Corey Littleton led the Los Angeles Rams in tackles with 12, and 11 of those being solo tackles.
