The Los Angeles Rams are the 2019 National Football Conference Champions and are headed to Super Bowl LIII after defeating the Saints 26-23 in an overtime thriller.
As the Rams celebrated, the New England Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime, setting the stage for a rematch of Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002.
Ram’s Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson said, “We want a rematch. We want them back again because they cheated us,” while on Undisputed with Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless.
The Rams handed the Saints their first home playoff loss since the Sean Payton-Drew Brees era that started in 2006.
A controversial fourth quarter call kept the Rams Super Bowl hopes alive. Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman interfered with Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis before the ball arrived. The no-call forced the Saints drive to end in a field goal.
Los Angeles managed to tie the game late in the fourth quarter after Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein hit a 48-yard field goal tying the game at 23-23. With 15 seconds to go, New Orleans opted to kneel prompting overtime.
New Orleans won the coin toss and received the ball to starting overtime, it wasn’t long until Dante Fowler Jr. hit Drew Brees mid-throw. The result was a floating pass intercepted by Safety John Johnson III.
Following the interception, Quarterback Jared Goff moved the ball downfield setting up Zuerlein’s game winning 57-yard field goal, sending the Rams to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2002.
The Rams are right where they expected to be after making major offseason and midseason acquisitions. The Rams front office traded for Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters and Dante Fowler Jr while signing Ndamukong Suh, Brandin Cooks, Todd Gurley II, and Aaron Donald.
Los Angeles made Gurley the highest-paid running back and Donald the highest-paid defensive player of all time; however, Donald was quickly bumped down to second highest-paid defensive player after Khalil Mack of the Chicago Bears topped his contract.
Los Angeles has announced they will wear their throwback jerseys in Super Bowl LIII on February 3rd.
