The outcome, however, was mired in controversy because of unpenalized apparent pass interference foul committed by Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman on Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis near the end of regulation, which would be nicknamed the "NOLA No-Call".

[1] The Saints entered the game slightly favored to win,[2] due to being the NFC's top seed, having home field advantage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and previously defeating the Rams in the regular season.

In a tight contest that was tied at 20 in the fourth quarter, the Saints reached the Rams' 13-yard line with less than two minutes remaining, but the uncalled pass interference caused their drive to stall.

The no-call was met with intense backlash, particularly in New Orleans where Saints fans attempted to have the game replayed and boycotted the season's Super Bowl.

[3] Although both the NFL and Robey-Coleman admitted that a penalty should have been called, league commissioner Roger Goodell determined that the no-call was an act of human error by the referees and not enough to reverse the game's outcome.

The Rams played the fourth-seeded Dallas Cowboys and defeated them by a score of 30–22 as running backs C. J. Anderson and Todd Gurley each rushed for over 100 yards and combined for three touchdowns.

It was the Rams' first NFC Championship Game appearance since the 2001 season, when they were based in St. Louis and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles to advance to Super Bowl XXXVI.

It was their NFC Championship Game appearance while based in Los Angeles since the 1989 season, when they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers.

On the ensuing drive, Rams quarterback Jared Goff's check-down pass went through the hands of running back Todd Gurley and was intercepted by Saints linebacker Demario Davis at Los Angeles' 17 yard line.

The Rams were able to continue the drive into Saints territory, with kicker Greg Zuerlein converting a 36-yard field goal to make the score 13–3 midway through the second quarter.

After two punts by the Saints and one by the Rams, Goff completed four of six passes for 75 yards on the ensuing drive to set up a 6-yard Todd Gurley touchdown run, trimming the lead to 13–10 just before halftime.

Los Angeles immediately responded with its own 75-yard touchdown drive, with Goff's one-yard completion to Tyler Higbee on third and goal making the score 20–17 in favor of the Saints with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter.

[12][13] Had a foul been called for grasping of the face mask and a penalty assessed, the Rams would have had first-and-goal on the Saints' one-yard line with a great opportunity to potentially take a 24–20 lead.

Just prior to the snap, there appeared to be a bit of confusion in the Rams' secondary, with cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman lined up on the opposite side of the formation from Lewis, who ended up being his receiver assignment.

[15]Later, viewers pointed out that in addition to pass interference, the play may have also constituted a hit to the head or neck area of a defenseless receiver, also a foul carrying an automatic first down.

The time saved from the non-call allowed the Rams to put together a quick nine-play drive, including a third-down conversion, with Zuerlein ultimately making a 48-yard field goal with 15 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 23.

On the second play of overtime, tight end Dan Arnold did manage to draw a 15-yard pass interference penalty to move the ball to the Saints' 40-yard line.

[citation needed] The fine was an admission that not only was the play a defensive pass interference violation, but it also should have been called a personal foul for an illegal hit on a defenseless receiver.

It's the commissioner's responsibility to do the same thing, and yet we don't hear a peep for 10 days, and it's because he has to do it now because he's at the Super Bowl and he does his annual press conference".Thomas was particularly vocal about the loss, expressing his anger at both the officials, and the Rams during his post game interview.

Rams veteran offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth referenced this while speaking on The Rich Eisen Show:"You see the arguments from some of the Saints' players about the rule about the commissioner restarting the game over or from that point or whatever.

[13]Rams head coach Sean McVay acknowledged the Robey-Coleman no-call while also referencing the missed face mask foul on Goff:“I’m not going to sit here and say there clearly wasn’t a little bit of contact before that ball actually arrived.

What we try to do a good job of understanding is that it is an imperfect game.”In Goodell's annual Super Bowl interview on January 30, he admitted that officials were "human," but they had missed that call.

[33] A group of Saints fans and season ticket holders upset with the controversial non-call and the subsequent outcome of the game filed a lawsuit against the NFL on January 27, 2019.

[3] The lawsuit asked the Louisiana Court "to mandate the extraordinary step of ordering a replay of the NFC Championship Game, and for damages to all putative class member Saints fans.

[35] The day after the game, Saints owner Gayle Benson released a statement announcing that she was "aggressively" pursuing for the NFL to make policy changes "to ensure no team and fan base is ever put in a similar position again.

On January 23, U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond called for Roger Goodell to be invited to testify before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust in regards to the result of the game.

[41] On March 27, 2019, NFL owners approved a trial rule change that would allow coaches to challenge pass interference call on both the offense and the defense.

As quarterback Jared Goff attempted a pass, Trey Hendrickson stripped the ball from his hand and Cameron Jordan returned it 87 yards for a touchdown.

The Saints were forced to bring in backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater halfway through the game due to Drew Brees suffering an injury to his hand after being hit by Aaron Donald.

[citation needed] The Saints made the playoffs again in 2020 but were eliminated again at home, this time by the Buccaneers in the Divisional Round, in Drew Brees' last game before his retirement after 20 years in the NFL.