The New Orleans Saints' season ended earlier than expected yet again thanks to quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings, who came to town and took down the home team in overtime. The underdog Vikings beat the Saints, 26-20, in the Wild Card round and are moving on to face the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.
It was a Saints playoff game, so of course it came with a little bit of controversy as well.
New Orleans had their fare share of struggles during the game, and despite an incredible performance from third string quarterback turned running back turned wide receiver turned blocker Taysom Hill, they could not get the job done in regulation.
After losing the coin toss to start OT, the Saints needed to prevent Kirk Cousins from leading the Vikings to a touchdown and failed.
Like I said before, we're talking about a Saints playoff game so in no way does the story end there. On the final play of overtime, tight end Kyle Rudolph caught the game-winning touchdown pass, but screams of offensive pass interference came from the Superdome crowd, who desperately wanted a flag.
The entire play was reviewable and so was OPI, a rule the Saints fought hard to get after the blown call in the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams last season. But the referees decided not to take a second look. This ended the game and caused chaos in Who Dat Nation.
Some fans threw trash at the refs while they were walking out, some sat in disbelieve after a third year of dramatic playoff exists (see also: Minnesota Miracle) and others took to Twitter to air their grievances.
Here are some of the best tweets from sad Saints fans and other from around the league:
First, take a look at the play in question and decide for yourself.
Refs didn’t even review the OPI. They just called game. Two years in a row the Saints have been robbed by missed pass interference calls. pic.twitter.com/1oZxtBReHl
— Xavier (@sltrz) January 5, 2020
People brought out the receipts comparing PI's of the past to the one that took place on Saturday.
I have bad news for anyone who is looking for NFL calls to be consistent.
How was this OPI and today’s overtime catch not?!? I’m not even a Saints fan but damn after last years non-call against them you’d think maybe the NFL would pay a little more attention 👀😳🤦🏽♂️ https://t.co/VSe1xusurO
— Coach John Carbajal (@RIPpimafootball) January 6, 2020
Dear @NFL,
— RightAscension 2.6 (@RAscension260) January 6, 2020
Remember this bs pass-interference call in the Super Bowl?! Yesterday’s arm-separation no-call by Rudolph against the @Saints was WAY worse! You guys created this issue w/the wildly inconsistent and vague pass-interference rule. PI at end of #Seahawks vs 9’ers, too. pic.twitter.com/KdkxrwaBra
Some compared it to a call in the later game with the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks, but again, consistency is not exactly a thing in this league.
HELP ME out football fans, OPI was called on #Seahawks but WAS NOT called on the #vikings in #ot against the #saints ... @NFLOfficiating is inconsistent. #SEAvsPHI #SaintsVsVikings #nfl #Playoffs Do you think its rigged? pic.twitter.com/V1LHwqCNJp
— Grant Michael (@geastey) January 5, 2020
The Saints needed to put themselves in a better position to win all game and it should not have come down to an OT touchdown toss, but even so, not looking at the play was surprising to many fans.
Saints deserved to lose. No doubt about it. Still surprised refs didn't look for OPI there.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) January 5, 2020
Refs didn’t even review the OPI. They just called game. Two years in a row the Saints have been robbed by missed pass interference calls. pic.twitter.com/1oZxtBReHl
— Xavier (@sltrz) January 5, 2020
Sometimes, when your team did not play their best, going all-in on blaming the refs is the easier thing to do.
Saints fans on their way to blame the refs after losing in the playoffs again! (@iam_johnw) pic.twitter.com/rBt1hTVTRt
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) January 5, 2020
They've had a lot of practice hating the refs over the years, so it does seem like second nature.
Saints fans trying to deal with the loss pic.twitter.com/ZFR8WQ7gSH
— 13-3🧀 (@HailRodgers12_) January 6, 2020
Not everyone wants to hear the complaints.
NFL fans watching the Saints complain: pic.twitter.com/Wtpd6037Vg
— Julia Mueller (@MuellerJulia15) January 5, 2020
The worst part about OPI not being called is that we all have to listen to #Saints fans complain for another whole year
— Mark Atkins (@TestDepthHockey) January 6, 2020
Non-Saints fans everywhere reminded the people of New Orleans that one play does not make an entire game. But I don't think this is what they want to hear right now.
All this arguing about OPI is just ridiculous. Saints fans need to stop blaming other people for their shortcomings. They had 75 yards to stop the Vikings in OT and didn’t get it done. #sorrynotsorry pic.twitter.com/9ZmFCi4CEs
— Pete Brandt (@viktimbertwild) January 6, 2020
Saints fans now join Kansas City Chiefs fans as advocates for different overtime rules.
No one:
— Dripmahomes (@dripmahomes) January 5, 2020
Saints fans after the Vikings outplayed them: pic.twitter.com/Wntp14X7Z9
Okay, it looks like not every fan is sending hate messages to the referees.
Im done talking about the refs the Saints should have got 7 and won in regulation
— WHODAT ⚜ (@SaintsFan310) January 5, 2020
Falcons fans everywhere are sitting back sipping tea.
NEVER FORGET..the Saints would of had a bye week if they didn’t lose 26 to 9 to a 1-7 @AtlantaFalcons team at home, but I was told by Saints fans the game didn’t matter. #RISEUP #BlewDat pic.twitter.com/tuI4he2PBx
— Matthew Dirty Bird Denney (@Dirty_Byrd30354) January 5, 2020
It's okay Saints fans, Bills, Patriots and Eagles fans woke up feeling the exact same way.
How Saints fans showed up for work today... pic.twitter.com/xM1L51r8bx
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) January 6, 2020
Saints fans know this well, there's always next year.