For fans of the Minnesota Vikings, Kyle Rudolph’s game-winning touchdown was a euphoric moment that sent the team to the NFC Divisional Round of the playoff
. As one of the biggest plays of the season, it’s perfectly understandable if they saw nothing wrong with the play, but in the aftermath, several talking heads and the Saints fan base believe that Rudolph’s touchdown shouldn’t have been allowed to stand.
As Kirk Cousins launched the two-yard pass, Rudolph extended his arm onto the shoulder of P.J. Williams. Williams’ head tilted back and Rudolph leaped up to make the game-winning grab to send the Vikings to San Francisco.
If you want it, #GoGetIt.
AND @kylerudolph82 WANTED IT. pic.twitter.com/0xgXJWxcRk
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 5, 2020
While the play took a while to be confirmed, NFL Senior Director of Officiating Al Riveron said after the game that the play was looked at from the offices of New York to see of Rudolph committed offensive pass interference.
After checking the play without the aid of instant replay, it was determined the level of contact didn’t alter the outcome of the play.
"All angles of the final play of #MINvsNO were looked at in New York – there is contact by both players, but none of that contact rises to the level of a foul." – AL pic.twitter.com/FvnuA3I4cs
— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) January 5, 2020
Of course, the play being reviewable in the first place came because of what happened to the New Orleans Saints last season.
During the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams, Tommy Lee Lewis was interfered with by Nickell Robey-Coleman, but the officials kept the flag in their pockets and the Rams eventually won the game in overtime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryqGaDAFqqg
With this missed call coming as the Saints were driving for a game-winning field goal to go to the Super Bowl, tempers ran high in the bayou with Sean Payton possibly wearing a Goodell clown shirt during his end of year press conference and Saints fans trying to take over the Super Bowl in Atlanta.
As the play wasn’t reviewed, several personalities and fans took to their platform of choice to voice their displeasure with the call and ask why the NFL didn’t go to the monitors to confirm the call.
The Saints are the second team since the Packers in 2013-15 to be eliminated in three straight postseasons on the final play of the game. pic.twitter.com/HQxEDplzD2
— ESPN (@espn) January 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/SNFRules/status/1213935055069990912
You know what would help the NFL?
A rule that allowed them to review PI. Maybe someone should propose it this offseason to prevent officials from ruining playoff games. pic.twitter.com/u7OPL1xbz7
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 5, 2020
While the national media seems to be painting a picture that the Vikings didn’t deserve to win this game, they may be forgetting about Williams grabbing Rudolph on a route in the first quarter, which led to a Vikings punt.
Nothing to see here. Just a #Saints DB holding #Vikings Kyle Rudolph at the top of the route. No flag. Catapulted himself back into the play. No blood… no foul I guess… pic.twitter.com/VfocgQ74ye
— Ron Johnson (@3RonJohnson) January 5, 2020
For what it’s worth, Sean Payton also didn’t seem to be willing to point the finger at the refs again, choosing to give credit to the Vikings for a strong final drive in overtime and their ability to shut down the white-hot Saints offense for a majority of the game.
“Tip your hats to Minnesota,” Payton said. “They deserved to win.”
Whether it should have been offensive pass interference or not, the Vikings won the game and will be heading to San Francisco next Saturday night. Whether the Vikings have a debt to be paid remains to be seen, but for now, the only thing that matters is they got the win nobody thought they could get.
– Listen to Paul Allen’s call of the Vikings’ game-winning touchdown.
– You Like That? Cousins drops famous line in locker room celebration.
– Vikings stun the Saints in overtime to advance to face 49ers.
