Los Angeles Rams: NFC Championship has shown a petulant side of Saints fans

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: New Orleans Saints fans cheer in the NFC Championship game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: New Orleans Saints fans cheer in the NFC Championship game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

The NFC Championship Game won by the Los Angeles Rams 26-23 in overtime is over. Fans of the New Orleans Saints need to move on.

The Los Angeles Rams won the NFC Championship Game this past Sunday. In New Orleans, it’s Thursday with an asterisk.

And so it goes.

The Rams 26-23 overtime win, yes WIN over the favored home team Saints, has become a day-to-day debate with no end in sight as fans in New Orleans look for new ways to protest and stomp their feet.

The latest to weigh-in is the New Orleans Advocate Editorial Board who will use a Saints helmet with an asterisk where the team’s logo typically goes, whenever they cover the upcoming Super Bowl.

Genius.

Add this to the pile of actions taken by Saints fans, their owner, and the Governor of Louisiana who have found a new way to define petulant. I mean, the Advocate is just the latest of the bold examples being set by adults who are pissed they didn’t and can’t get their way.

One lawsuit filed by “Who Dat Nation” demanded a hearing over how the officials handled the game in the waning minutes. Another lawsuit filed by a ticket holder for the game says that the league “cannot be trusted to police itself.” 

The first lawsuit named Roger Goodell and the league as defendants and claim damages of mental anguish and emotional trauma, loss of faith in the National Football League, a loss in the enjoyment of life, and loss of trust in the game.

These are adults folks.

Not to be outdone, the team owner, in a sternly worded statement says, “No team should ever be denied the opportunity to reach the title game (or simply win a game) based on the actions, or inactions, of those charged with creating a fair and equitable playing field.”

That’s another adult.

The Governor expressed deep disappointment for the people of Louisiana and reminded the Commissioner that while fans would eventually move past the game, “we will not forget it.”

This guy was elected.

Last week I wrote that Rams fans were off the mark in creating a petition on Change.org regarding Bill Vinovich. I said that over the course of 60 minutes, Los Angeles would either win or lose on the field. In over 60 minutes of play plus overtime in New Orleans, the Los Angeles Rams won the NFC Championship by ultimately making more plays than the Saints. Frankly, the Rams were fortunate to be in the game at halftime.

That’s a Saints problem.

I see no outcry for a public hearing to demand a review of Sean Payton’s play calling, a demand for an explanation for only being up six points early when they could have been up 14 points, and I don’t see a fan accounting for an ill-timed interception tossed by Drew Brees.

Heck, the Rams best player Todd Gurley was on the sidelines more than on the field, and New Orleans STILL LOST THE GAME.

I say all this being well aware of the fact that the egregious no-call on what was clearly pass interference happened when it may not have even been a factor had the Saints taken out the Rams when they had the chance.

Again, that’s a Saints problem.

If you watch it enough, sports will break your heart. No one, not even Rams fans would deny that. But at some point, the adults need to park the self importance, the petulance, and the sour grapes and move on. The Rams won a game the New Orleans Saints could have, but did not.

Maybe the fans in New Orleans should redirect their anger, disappointment, and frustration at their own team for not taking care of business when they had the chance.

Schedule