Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks was interfered with in Super Bowl LIII, according to the NFL Competition Committee.
NFL’s Competition Committee also admitted the Brandin Cooks play at the end of this year’s Super Bowl would have been ruled pass interference, giving the Rams the ball at 1-yard line, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 27, 2019
Had pass interference been called, that would have given the Rams a strong chance to score a touchdown. Instead of the Patriots winning the Super Bowl by a score of 13-3, some would have argued that maybe the Rams could have won.
Even if the new replay review changes for offensive and defensive pass interference calls were in effect in the Super Bowl, the outcome probably would not have been different, however. Considering Jared Goff struggled against the Patriots' defense the entire night, the pass interference call likely would have reduced the deficit, and nothing more.
Of course the Rams started to move the ball a little bit in the second half, but there still wasn't much efficiency in their offense. The pass and run game could not gain any momentum; the Rams were just outplayed in every possible way.
Yet, when acknowledging that the Patriots were superior, there is still no doubt that these rule changes on pass interference review will help all NFL teams in 2019… and receivers such as Brandin Cooks. Incorrect pass interference calls or non-calls should not decide the outcome of a game. The Saints should have been the NFC champions instead of the Rams. So many teams for so long have been negatively affected by pass interference calls and non-calls. Sean Payton and the Saints got the rule changes they wanted; let's hope that it works out for the better.
We can all say that the Patriots were lucky that Dee Ford jumped offsides; that saved them from a game-ending interception in the AFC Championship Game. People just say that they are lucky in general. But whether it is luck or anything else, the 10-point (two-score) margin indicates the Patriots probably would have won the Super Bowl even if the pass interference call had been made on the pass to Brandin Cooks.
You can be the judge of the play. Was it pass interference?
The competition committee said this play should have been interference and the #Rams would have gotten the ball on the 1-yard line. I pointed this out that night (some of you were irritated). It was subtle but by the letter of the law… pic.twitter.com/TdJi2YBnzw
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) March 27, 2019
Follow Us
Subscribe