No Do-Overs For Rams-Saints Playoff Game, Judge Rules

NEW ORLEANS — The Saints and their fans will just have to lick their wounds during the off-season because a federal judge Thursday refused to order a do-over of the NFC Championship Game that sent the Rams to the Super Bowl.

According to ESPN, U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan rejected the lawsuit brought by two New Orleans fans unhappy with an apparent missed call that favored Los Angeles. The pair of season ticket holders took their grievance to court in an unusual effort to overturn the outcome of the game. Tommy Badeaux and Candis Lambert sued the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell over a missed interference call that allowed the Rams and opportunity to tie the game and win it in overtime.

"None of the actions Plaintiffs might seek to compel Commissioner Goodell to do are the kinds of actions a writ of mandamus may address," Morgan said in a 17-page ruling according to USA Today.

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The lawsuit claimed that the non-call constitutes a “calamity,” giving Goodell the authority to order a review because it was “so extraordinarily unfair or outside the accepted tactics encountered in professional football that such action has a major effect on the result of the game.”

For many Saints fans, the Rams were able to come from behind and beat the Saints because officials failed to call pass interference on Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, who knocked over Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis late in regulation. Lewis didn’t catch the pass, and the Saints had to go for a field goal, giving the Rams just enough time to tie the game.

The controversial game has continued to stir uproar and debate among football aficionados.
Rams fans largely scoff at the notion that their team’s victory was illegitimate with many pointing to another play where officials failed to penalize the Saints when linebacker A.J. Klein grabbed Rams quarterback Jared Goff by the face-mask.

Ultimately, the Rams won the game 26 to 23, and they will play the Patriots in Atlanta Sunday in Super Bowl LIII.

PHOTO: YouTube screengrab