With angered reactions surrounding two questionable no-calls, the Saints’ frustrations boiled over. But, Los Angeles retained its focus on the task at hand.
With the oversite in the rearview mirror, Rams kicker, Greg Zuerlein nailed a 57-yard field goal worthy of 67-yards to send the Los Angeles Rams to Super Bowl LIII by defeating the New Orleans Saints, 26-23 on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The kick, a postseason record for Los Angeles, is one of the longest in an NFC championship game, sent the Rams to its first Super Bowl since 2000 when it best the Tennessee Titans, 23-16.
A drive that started at the Rams 46 required only two plays of positive yards to give Zuerlein a shot at the winning kick. Jared Goff threw two passes to tight end Tyler Higbee, which covered 18 yards to set up a fourth down at the Saints 39.
To help its cause, the Rams defense responded in a championship manner by recording three significant plays to halt the Saints’ last possession before overtime. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers batted away Drew Brees pass before New Orleans caught a break when linebacker Mark Barron interfered with Saints tight end Cole Wick at the 40-yard line. But Rams defenders’, Aaron Donald, Dante Fowler, and John Johnson, accounted for three consecutive big plays.
Donald dropped Mark Ingram for a six-yard loss, Fowler bull-rushed Brees, forcing him to throw a pass off balance, resulting in Johnson picking it off.
Before overtime, the Rams trailed 23-20 with 1:41 left. Nonetheless, Los Angeles marched 75-yards as fans watched Zuerlein boot a 48-yard field goal to tie and send the game into overtime with 15 seconds remaining.
Even with the Rams’ hard-fought victory, Saint fans left the game angry over what transpired late in the fourth quarter.
Game officials missed a pair of infractions that possibly cost the Saints a chance to play for a Super Bowl.
It started with 4:57 left, and the score locked at 20. The Saints took a promising drive downfield. Eight plays into the possession, Rams’ defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman slammed into Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis before the ball arrived while running a wheel route with 1:45 remaining in regulation. The no-call frustrated Saint Fans as Sean Payton pleaded with the line judge to no avail.
The replay screen showed both head and line judge viewing in the direction of the unfavorable play as it unfolded. Yet no flag.
Though the Saints led 13-0 in the first quarter, it left points on the board when Wick dropped a touchdown pass on the first series of the game, but Wil Lutz drilled a 37-yard field goal with 10:04 to go in the first quarter to give New Orleans a 3-0 lead.
Then Goff threw an interception when Gurley allowed the ball to go through his hands into the waiting arms of linebacker Demario Davis at the Rams 16.
Still, the Saints allowed another red-zone opportunity to turn into a Lutz 29-yard field goal. New Orleans led, 6-0 with 7:06 left in the first quarter.
The touchdown drive was highlighted by Drew Brees two passes, one to tight end Josh Hill for 24 yards at the Rams 44 and a 19-yard pass to receiver Michael Thomas at the 18. Three plays later, fullback Gary Griffin reeled in a five-yard scoring pass from Brees as New Orleans led, 13-0 following Lutz bonus kick.
Los Angeles defense played well and kept the score close until its offense could circle. Ndamukong Suh led the way with two first-half sacks. Linebackers Dante Fowler, Cory Littleton, and defensive lineman Michael Brockers excited Ram fans with multiple stops behind the line of scrimmage.
The Rams put a three spot on the scoreboard following a fake punt while facing fourth and five from its 30. Punter Johnny Hekker lined up in punt formation, took the long snap, turned and threw a pass to Sam Sheilds who took the ball to the 42 for a new set of downs. Eventually, Zuerlein nailed a 36-yard field goal with 9:54 to go in the second quarter.
Two possessions later, Goff directed an 81-yard scoring drive that saw receiver Brandin Cook come up with back-to-back receptions to gain the Saints six-yard line. Gurley completed the drive, carrying the ball to the end zone. That made the score 13-10 with 23 seconds before intermission.
The Rams beat the odds by coming to New Orleans and walking out with the win.
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