A Saints-Rams rematch?

On Sunday, the Rams beat the Saints 26-23 to book their ticket to the Super Bowl. However, the game came with an asterisk as Billy Vinovich, the referee of the game, blew countless amounts of calls, including a game changing pass interference no-call. After the game, coach Sean Payton claimed that the officiating headquarters in New York City said that they blew the call. Multiple players felt like they were cheated of the game, as if that penalty was called, the Saints almost surely would have won.

Yesterday, a section in the rulebook bubbled up. According to Rule 17, Section 2, Article 3 of the NFL rulebook, "The Commissioner’s powers under this Section 2 include the imposition of monetary fines and draft-choice forfeitures, suspension of persons involved in unfair acts, and, if appropriate, the reversal of a game’s result or the rescheduling of a game, either from the beginning or from the point at which the extraordinary act occurred.”

This means that, if an act of extraordinary unfairness occurs, the commissioner may reverse the game, declaring that the Saints won, give the Saints a 1st and Goal with 1:47 left, or do a complete rematch of the game.

Online, Saints fans have started a petition for a rematch to occur. The petition, which has amassed over 500,000 signatures, also calls for the entire crew who reffed the game to be fired. There are also numerous highway signs posted across New Orleans that read, "WE WERE ROBBED." Others have also pledged not to watch the Super Bowl as a form of protest to the NFL.

As exciting as it sounds to have a rematch, the chances of it happening are slim to none. Roger Goodell will almost certainly not take such drastic measures to prevent this. What is more likely is that Billy Vinovich will be fined and/or suspended, and a new rule will likely be passed this offseason that pass interferences can be reviewed, as this was not the only blatant miss of a penalty this season.