A fistful of bitter karma with a coating of sweet schadenfreude dipped in black-and-gold righteous indignation.
That was the recipe for Steelers fans who were watching the NFC Championship Game.
With 1:48 remaining on a third-and-10 play from the Rams 13-yard line, the score was 20-20. Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman clearly interfered with Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis. It also appears helmet-to-helmet contact could've been flagged.
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/SimmsAndLefkoe/status/1087127004410007554 [/embed]
Neither call was made. Even Robey-Coleman made it clear he was aware that he got away with one ... or two ... on that play.
The Saints could've killed the clock and kicked a game-winning field goal. Instead, they were forced to kick to take a 23-20 lead with 1:41 remaining. The Rams had time to tie it then win it in overtime.
And just like that, New Orleans' season ended. And Los Angeles got a berth in the Super Bowl.
After the 26-23 overtime loss, Saints head coach Sean Payton said the NFL admitted flags should have been thrown.
"It was simple. They blew the call. They said it should never have not been a call," Payton said of the explanation he received. "They said not only was it interference, it was helmet-to-helmet. They just — they couldn't believe it."
Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, searching for answers, jokingly said, "Blame the government shutdown."
Come to think of it, I bet a furloughed national parks worker or two could've done a better job officiating that game than that crew did.
NFL.com confirmed that conversation.
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1087162370022129665 [/embed]
The city of New Orleans seems to be handling it ... well.
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/WWLTV/status/1087136024508153856 [/embed]
Rams fans didn't have much sympathy, pointing to other blown calls in the game that went the way for New Orleans.
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/fhnixon/status/1087162483972997120 [/embed]
And neither did Steelers fans. Nor should they. Because, let's remember, the Saints largely gained home field advantage in the playoffs due to a pass interference call against Joe Haden they didn't deserve.
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/FernTooFly/status/1087132644976947201 [/embed]
Now, they lost a title game in their home stadium due to a P.I. call they didn't get. Steelers Twitter wanted to make sure that irony wasn't lost on the social-media public.
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/JRown32/status/1087123314341015559 [/embed]
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/DickAndSauce/status/1087123356065980416 [/embed]
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/fugimaster24/status/1087129618023436288 [/embed]
ESPN's Adam Schefter seemed upset for the Saints.
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1087136823497895936 [/embed]
Um, Adam, the city of Cleveland would like to have a word.
