Arguably the most anticipated matchup of Week 2 of the 2019 NFL Season, the Los Angeles Rams managed to defeat the New Orleans Saints, 27-9.
The NFC Championship Game rematch got off to a slow start as both teams only managed two field goals apiece in the first half, partly because Drew Brees went down with a thumb injury.
With the teams tied at three in the second quarter and Los Angeles facing 3rd-and-7, quarterback Jared Goff was ready to pass when he was hit on the arm, fumbling the ball in the process. The ball was picked up by Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, who began to run it back and returned it to the endzone. The only problem was that the play was whistled dead as officials ruled it was an incomplete pass.
Upon review, the call was reversed and ruled a fumble, thus allowing the Saints to take over on the Rams side of the field. However, the blown call erased what would have been a New Orleans touchdown, thus adding another layer of controversy between the two teams.
According to Greg Beacham of the Associated Press, Goff believes the Rams may have lucked out again:
Jared Goff on his turnover: “I thought it was a fumble. I was hoping they’d call it incomplete. I think maybe we got away with one.”
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) September 16, 2019
It was an offensive struggle as both teams’ defensive units made life difficult for the offenses. With Brees exiting out of the game in the first quarter, Jordan’s defensive touchdown would have easily swayed the game in the Saints’ favor.
The blown call will definitely not sit well with Saints fans as there are some who are justifiably not over the blown pass interference call from the NFC Championship game when cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman clearly got away with shoving receiver Tommy Lee Lewis in the red zone. The Rams have already admitted that it was a bad call and Goff seems to be well-aware that his team was once again saved by questionable officiating.
After a sluggish first half, the Rams picked it up offensively in the second half. Todd Gurley and Malcolm Brown found success on the ground, while Goff seemed more comfortable in the pocket as he was able to deliver several strikes to his receiving corps. The team scored three touchdowns and effectively put the game away in the middle of the fourth quarter, so while the call hurt the Saints, it did not necessarily cost them the game.
Regardless, the defending NFC champions move to 2-0 and keep pace with what looks to be a much more competitive NFC West division. The Rams will look to extend their winning streak when they go on and take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 3 on Sunday night.
