Los Angeles Rams were doomed in Super Bowl 53 from the start

Whether fans want to hear it or not, the Los Angeles Rams were doomed in Super Bowl 53 from the beginning.

On Jan. 20, 2019, the NFC Championship between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints was  played in New Orleans, Louisiana. The assigned head official to this game was Bill Vinovich.

At the time, the Rams were 0-8 in games officiated by Vinovich. Nearly 10,000 fans signed a petition asking the NFL to remove Vinovich from officiating the game, while Saints fans were feeling giddy.

Of course, the game did not go as the Saints had anticipated, especially that one controversial call on cornerback Nickel Robey-Coleman in what is now the famous pass interference “non-call” on wide receiver Tommylee Lewis towards the end of the game.

Later on, the Rams won the game in overtime. Lawsuits were filed to either reverse the outcome or replay the game from the time the “non-call” penalty occurred, which obviously didn’t happen.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did not address the matter in person for 10 days, and addressed it on the Wednesday leading up to the Super Bowl, creating a major black eye for the league.

The dye was cast for the Rams!

The most anticipated Super Bowl Sunday between the Rams and New England Patriots was played on Feb. 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. This game was a rematch of Super Bowl 36 where the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick dynasty had started, when the Patriots beat the two-touchdown favorites, St. Louis Rams, 20-17.

The NFL official assigned to SB LIII was John Parry. The Rams were 8-0 in games officiated by Parry. Parry was also the NFL official involved in the famous “Deflategate” scandal involving Brady and the Patriots, in which they were penalized by forfeiting a first-round draft pick in the NFL Draft.

Also, the Patriots were 9-5 on games officiated by Parry. The Rams were feeling giddy.

Super Bowl 53 started with the Patriots on offense. Brady threw an interception on their first drive. On their second drive, the Patriots quickly ran for a first down, but, then the Rams’ defense took over to the point that there was a feeling of, “Oh my goodness, Los Angeles is going to win this game due to their play on the defensive side of the football.”

Enter Robey-Coleman again, as it is second and long when the cornerback tackles Patriots running back Rex Burkhead for a loss. Next, it is 3rd and 18 deep in Patriots territory, but, wait, Parry throws the flag and calls for a personal foul penalty Dante Fowler, who was not involved in the play.

In a very confusing turn of events, Gene Steratore, CBS on-call retired NFL referee stated in the broadcast that Robey-Coleman (not Fowler) had impeded the running back “before he was able to start/maintain possession.”

The question here was, of course, if a fumble had occurred, then the play would have been alright?

Obviously, a very questionable call by Parry. The Patriots got a cheap first down. The real effect on the Rams was thwarting their defensive and possibly offensive momentum, if they got the ball back in good field position, after the Patriots punt. Luckily, New England did not score on that drive.

The game see-sawed until the fourth quarter: The score was 3-3 when the Rams got the ball at their own seven-yard line. The Rams put a drive together, and even Tony Romo said “they are feeling it.”

With over 11 minutes to go in the game, Todd Gurley ran for 13 yards to the New England 42-yard line. Parry threw the flag for holding on the Rams center John Sullivan. Romo looking at the replay said “not a call I would make in that specific case,” but it still resulted in the Rams seeing a 1st and 20.

Another referee Parry “momentum killer” for the Rams.

The Patriots scored on their next drive and the game was now 10-3.

The Rams got the ball back at their own 25-yard line. They drove to the Patriots 27-yard line, with 4:30 minutes left to play. Quarterback Jared Goff lobbed the ball to wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who grabbed the ball with his right hand, but couldn’t wrap the ball with his left hand, as the safety replacing Patrick Chung (broken arm), Duron Harmon, clearly held Cooks, but nothing was called.

Another incomplete pass and no call to help the Rams, as Romo even commented how it was a “perfect pass” by Goff, yet Cooks was clearly held.

Between the offense being in some sort of funk throughout the contest along with the poor officiating at times, the Rams seemed to be doomed from the beginning in Super Bowl 53, and it was painful to watch.

Maybe if all goes according to plan next season, Los Angeles will be in another position to play in the Super Bowl, and will see better results than last weekend during their loss to New England.