Everyone agrees that Nickell Robey-Coleman’s egregious pass interference that went unpenalized changed the fabric of the NFC Championship Game. Robey-Coleman himself admits it was a penalty. The no-call forced the Saints to settle for a field goal in the final minutes instead of being awarded a first down, which would have allowed them to at least run more time off the clock if not score a touchdown.
People in New Orleans will be playing “what if” for years, but it turns out Roger Goodell has the power to turn the hypothetical into reality. As Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio points out, an obscure NFL rule gives the commissioner the authority to overturn the result of the game and force Los Angeles and New Orleans to replay the end of the game.